OELWEIN - Gordon "Digger" Allen Brant, 85, of Marshalltown, formerly of Oelwein, died Saturday, Sept. 20, at Grandview Heights, while under the care of Iowa River Hospice.

He was born Feb. 4, 1923, in Dunkerton, son of Herbert Wesley and Alice Sophia Paine Brant. On July 27, 1942, he married Dorothy Marie Shupe in Lebanon, Ohio. She preceded him in death Feb. 13, 1995. He married Betty Gail Johnson Miller on May 4, 1997.

He graduated from Oelwein High School in 1941 and attended the United Aircraft School in Omaha, Neb. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, attaining the rank of corporal. He graduated from the Cincinnati School of Embalming and returned to Oelwein to serve at the family business, Brant Funeral Home. He owned and operated it from 1946 until retiring Jan. 1, 1982.

Mr. Brant was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church, Oelwein. He also served as past president of the High Twelve Club.

Survived by: his wife; a son, Dennis (Carol) of Plano, Texas; a daughter, Kathy (Brad) Braga of Marshalltown; a daughter-in-law, Nancy (Rick) Brant-Ahn of Marshalltown; two stepsons, Alan Miller of Pacifica, Calif., and Burke (Dixie) Miller of Houston; a stepdaughter-in-law, Sally Miller of Marshalltown; 11 grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; 12 stepgreat-grandchildren; and a sister, Grace Spindler of Creston.

Preceded in death by: a son, James; a stepson, Gregg Miller; a stepdaughter, Karen Miller; three brothers, Morris, Russell and Randall; and two sisters, Lucille Hall and Naomi Brant.

Services: 1:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, both in Oelwein. Military honors will be conducted by Oelwein American Legion Ross Reid Post No. 9 Honor Guard. Public visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mitchell Family Funeral Home, Marshalltown, and from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein. Visitation also for an hour before services Thursday at the church.

Memorials: may be directed to Iowa River Hospice, 206 W. Church St., Marshalltown 50158.