Brenda Daake

Brenda Gail Woodfin Daake, 69, of Ankeny, Iowa passed away on Friday, December 2, 2022, at Des Moines MercyOne Hospital. She was born on April 29, 1953, in Montgomery, Alabama to Horace Shelton Woodfin and Dorothy Woodfin.

Brenda graduated from high school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and later attended Walker Junior College, Auburn University and graduated from the University of Alabama. She married Terrell Lynn Ogletree in 1984 in Alabama and he passed away in 2004. On February 16, 2015, Brenda married Robert Lee Daake in Urbandale, Iowa.

Brenda worked in a variety of positions throughout her career. She worked in several furniture stores, at Home Depot, and performed drafting and design work for an architectural firm. In 2013, Brenda moved to Iowa to be close to her granddaughter Ava Ogletree and Ava’s mother, Micole Van Walbeek. She attended as many of Ava’s activities, mostly dance events, as her health permitted. Often times she was referred to as the “Bama Grandma”.

Brenda was a talented artist. She painted and created fabulous pencil drawings. She kept many art supplies in her basement and enjoyed working with her granddaughter, primarily with painting.

Brenda loved her church, New Hope Assembly of God and attended worship and other activates, health permitting.

Brenda’s college training related to interior design and architecture and she loved watching TV design and remodeling shows.

Brenda enjoyed travel and in the last few years experienced a couple of trips back to Alabama, explored several attractions along the Mississippi River in Iowa, and enjoyed an extensive trip through Colorado. She did, however, promise that she would never again participate in that nail-biting ride to the top of Pike’s Peak.

Brenda loved the ocean! She had a close friend, Beverly that owns a house near the Gulf Coast and was able to occasionally spend time on the beach. Her family also traveled to the Gulf for summer vacations.


Services will be at New Hope Assembly of God, 4425 70th Street, Urbandale, on December 8, 2022. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Horace Shelton Woodfin and Dorothy Woodfin; and sister, Paula Cannon.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Robert Daake; son, Jason Ogletree; step-sons, Christopher Daake, Rob Daake, Wesley (Gordana) Ogletree, Ryan Ogletree; and grandchildren, Ava Ogletree (Micole Van Walbeek), Sara Ogletree, and Sofia Ogletree; many relatives and close friends in Alabama and Georgia; as well as many friends in central Iowa.

Please direct memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

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