Brett J. Vanersvelde

Brett J. VanErsvelde, age 47 of Huxley, Iowa, passed away Sunday, October 7, 2018, due to injuries suffered in a house fire. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Slater. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, October 12, 2018, Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn, Iowa, with Rev. Emily Peasley and Fr. Steven Page officiating. Military Honors will be conducted at the funeral home. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 9:30 – 10:30 on Friday prior to the service. Inurnment will be in the Victor Cemetery, Victor, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to the Brett VanErsvelde Memorial Fund c/o Kloster Funeral Home, PO Box 341, Brooklyn, IA 52211.

Brett is survived by Julie McLain, his partner in a 22 year loving relationship;

his daughter Jill, his son Dan, and his daughter Alison; his parents, Jim and Janet VanErsvelde; his siblings, Todd (Diane), and Troy; nieces Courtney and Nicole;

and his daughter Mekaila from a previous marriage. He was preceded in death by a brother Mike in 1994, his paternal grandparents, Raymond and Rachel DeCrane VanErsvelde, and maternal grandparents, Ronald and Gladys Hutchison Baltisberger.

Brett Joseph was born December 21, 1970 in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Jim and Janet Baltisberger VanErsvelde. He graduated from the BGM High School in 1989 and served in the U.S. Navy for 5 ½ years. He then attended Iowa State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Brett was currently employed with the U.S. Postal Service as a mechanic. Previously he worked with the DOT in Ames for 10 years, and with Hach Chemical for over 10 years. He was a member of the Slater United Methodist Church, the Slater American Legion Post #260 and the American Postal Workers Union.

Brett was a family man. He spent much of his time enjoying the sports activities of his children. He enjoyed football, soccer, and classic cars. He also liked to experiment with smoking different kinds of meat.