Brenda Koger
August 30, 1952 - December 29, 2022

Brenda Koger, 70, of Malvern, IA passed away on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at her home in Malvern. A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Charles E. and Florence M. Laking Community Center at the Mills County Fairgrounds in Malvern. Loess Hills Funeral and Cremation Center in Malvern is caring for Brenda and her family.

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, the family will direct memorials

OBITUARY
Brenda Maye (Maxwell) Koger, 70 of Malvern, IA, passed away December 29, 2022 at her home.
Brenda was born in Hartford, Iowa on August 30, 1952, the daughter of Francis "Cookie" Maxwell and Erma (Lohr) Maxwell. Brenda was the youngest of four sisters, Barbara Kaye, Beverly Faye, and Bonnie Raye. Lovingly known as the "Four B's" when they were all together, the air was filled with laughter and stories of childhood.

Moving to Bedford, Iowa in the early sixties, her father Cookie was the agency manager for Taylor County Farm Bureau Insurance and her mother Erma owned and operated the Skylark Café. Brenda's work ethic and love of people started in that environment and stayed with her for her whole life. Never being one to sit around, she was always busy, raising two daughters, operating her in-home daycare, running the household, helping Larry with the lawn care business and her most favorite thing to do, watching the kids she took care of playing sports, dancing or acting in plays. She also enjoyed her flower gardens of daisies, pansies and iris, along with trying to keep mostof the wild bird population in southwest Iowa fed. Her greatest love was her daughters, their husbands, and her grandkids.

Brenda graduated from Bedford Community High School in 1970. She was very active in school sports, lettering in softball, basketball, and track. She was a member of Rainbow and Eastern Star and a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church.

Brenda and Larry Gene Koger were united in marriage on June 13, 1971 in Bedford. Larry was a proud member of the United States Air Force and Brenda accompanied him to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and the 1st Combat Evaluation Group, Hastings, Nebraska. The couple settled in Malvern, Iowa in 1978 when Larry was discharged from the service. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Molly Lynn and Maggie Leigh.

Brenda operated her in-home daycare for 46 years until her health declined in August 2022. She was honored in the 2022 East Mills Homecoming Parade by "Brenda's Kids". Kids she had cared for were now bringing their kids to Brenda and she loved every one of them.

Brenda is perhaps remembered most for her support of the Malvern and later East Mills School system. She served two terms on the school board, was a former Booster Club President, and was an unrelenting voice of support for any athletic event that she attended from 4th grade volleyball and basketball to any and all high school athletic events. Brenda was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and a good friend to all who knew and loved her.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents; sister Beverly Gough and husband Wayne; and brother-in-law Thomas Myers.

Brenda is survived by her beloved husband of 51 years, Larry Koger of Malvern; daughter, Molly Taylor and husband Cole, and their sons, Drexel and Devin, all of Houston, TX; daughter, Maggie DeShaw and husband Paul and their children, Cordelia and Charles, all of Geneva, IL; sisters, Barbara Myers of Tulsa, OK, and Bonnie Shupe of Ankeny, IA; sister- in-law, Karon Terrell of Indianola, IA; nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.
Quoting one of the mothers who entrusted her children to Brenda, "I don't know what Angel is in charge up there, but they might want to move over", God bless her. lgk

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