Obituary of Fredine Branson

Fredine McBryde Branson, 83, of Iowa City, died on October 9, 2014 at Oaknoll Retirement Residence from complications of Parkinson's disease. Fredine was a native of Alabama (born on Apr. 6, 1931 in rural Rose Hill, AI), but a resident of Iowa City for the last 51 years, where she and her husband of 59 years, Civil Engineering Professor Dan Branson, raised their two children, Kathy Branson and Tim Branson. Fredine was a civic and political leader in Iowa City for many years, chairing and serving on many civic, governmental and political organizations, including the following: Citizens for a Better Iowa City League of Women Voters Iowa City Housing Commission (1973-77), Chair ('74-77); Iowa Housing Finance Authority (1975-80), Chair ('77-79); Johnson County Democratic Party Central Committee (1972-80), Chair ('79-80); Johnson County Social Welfare Board (1983-87), Chair ('85-87). She also successfully managed State Representative Arthur Small's campaign in 1974, and was a delegate in 1976 and 1980 to the National Democratic Party Conventions, first for Arizona Congressman Mo Udall in 1976, and then for President Carter in 1980. Before coming to Iowa City, Fredine graduated with a BS from Troy State University and a Master's Degree in Education from Auburn University, where she met her husband Dan in 1954. She taught elementary school for 7 years in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, while living in Auburn, AL, Columbus, GA, Gainesville, FL and Tuscaloosa Al. She was a Licensed Realtor in Iowa, working at Iowa Land Corporation and later Duncan-Matheson-Glasgow Realtors for a total of 16 years. After retirement, Fredine and her husband Dan had a condominium for many years in Destin, Florida, where her family often visited, including her grandchildren Sam and Zach Branson. Fredine and Dan were active and frequent travelers, visiting most of Western and Eastern Europe, 49 of the 50 United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, and living for one year in Aachen, Germany. Fredine was preceded in death by her parents, John Frederick McBryde and Florence Wyatt McBryde, and her daughter Kathy, who died in 1987 from complications of epilepsy at the age of 30. She is survived by her husband Dan (Oaknoll Retirement Residence, Iowa City), her son Tim, her daughter-in-law Susan, grandchildren Sam and Zach (Golden Valley, MN), her brother John Henry McBryde (Nashville, TN), her brother Rex McBryde (Andalusia, AL), and her sister-in-law Susan B. Coward of Mobile, Al. Visitation will be on Monday October 13, 2014 from 4:30 p.m to 7 p.m at the Gay and Ciha Funeral Home, with a Funeral Service to be held the next morning at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City with Rev. Dr. Barrie Tritle officiating. Private burial will follow in the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Fredine's name to the Crisis Center of Johnson County, Iowa City, Iowa. Fredine's family is grateful to the Oaknoll staff who took such good care of her during her extended illness. Online condolences and memories may be sent to www.gayandciha.com.