Brenda George
Brenda Le George (nee Begalske), age 66, passed away on Dec. 11, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospice following a four-year-long battle with breast cancer, surrounded by loved ones.
Brenda was born to Walter “Gus” and Donna Begalske on Feb. 7, 1959, in Prairie du Chien, Wis., as the oldest of three daughters. She attended MFL Community Schools in Monona, where her father was a long-time teacher of physics and chemistry. She was an active member of the golf, softball and basketball teams at MFL, as well as band and choir.
Brenda briefly attended Iowa State University before transferring to Wartburg College in Waverly, majoring in social work. She was an active member of the Wartburg Band and Social Work Club, making several lifelong friends in the process.
Brenda moved around post-graduation to multiple states before settling in Cedar Rapids. It was there she met her husband, Ed George, at REM Iowa and two quickly fell in love to become life-long soulmates.
They were united in marriage on April 22, 1994, in Marion.
Brenda loved her career in social work in her numerous roles over the years. She loved to help people in any way she could and had an extremely generous heart. This included numerous roles at REM Iowa, Mercy Hospital, Willow Gardens Care Center, Northbrook Care Center and UnityPoint Hospice prior to retirement in 2021.
She absolutely loved her family more than anything, whether it was hosting family gatherings, attending events or going on family vacations to Florida and the Caribbean. As long as there was water involved, either an ocean or a pool, she was in her “happy place.”
She also enjoyed going out to eat with friends and family, a nice glass of Merlot wine and traveling to visit her sons in Des Moines and Ames.
She loved the beach more than anything. Brenda’s spirit animal was a pelican and enjoyed watching them soar over the water. May she continue to soar over all of us.
She is survived by her husband, Ed George, of Marion; son, Sam George of Des Moines; step-son, Ralph (Michelle) George of Ames; mother, Donna Begalske, of Monona; sisters, Linda (Mark) Kimzey of Mount Pleasant and Diane (Dan) Rothmeyer of Monona; nieces, Kaitlyn (Burke) Schrader of Cedar Rapids and Rebekah Kimzey of Norwalk; and nephews, John Rothmeyer of Marion and Aaron (McKenzie) Kimzey of Monmouth, Ill.
She is proceeded in death by her father, Walter “Gus” Begalske.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, at St. Joeseph Catholic Church, Marion. Burial will be at Oak Shade Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Unity Point Hospice.
Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Brenda’s tribute wall and share your support and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com, under obituaries.
