Brandon Sturdy Obituary

Brandon Chauncy Sturdy, 19, of Urbandale, died May 13, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq while serving bravely as a Private First Class in the United States Marine Corps. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church with burial in Glendale Cemetery. Brandon was in a motorized patrol with 2/1 Fox Company, Weapons Platoon when he was killed by an improvised explosive device. He earned the National Defense Medal and a Purple Heart for his service.

He was born September 25, 1984 and lived in Urbandale all of his life. After graduating from Urbandale High School in 2003, Brandon joined the Marines and began his boot camp training in May 2003 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton until his unit was deployed to Iraq in February.

To all who knew him, Brandon was faithful to life, love, God and his country. He was a hard worker, enjoyed physical fitness, the Oakland Raiders, NBA Basketball and his dog, Bruno. To all those lives that he touched, Brandon is forever in our hearts...never to be forgotten. He will be greatly missed.

He leaves behind his proud parents, Dave Sturdy and Bob and Shelly Rivera of Urbandale; his loving fiancee, Tricia Johnson of Grimes; a brother, Bob Rivera II; a sister, Stephanie Rivera; grandparents, Burnell Hill, Boucher and Laveda Sturdy, and Joe Rivera; a great grandmother, Hazel Westwick; aunts and uncles, Spencer Hill, Tanya and Steve Baker, Ken and Tracy Sturdy, Linda and Don Faas, Debbie Rottler, Phil Sturdy, Joe and Jennifer Rivera, David and Rosemary Rivera, Tom and Deb Rivera, Michele Rivera; and many cousins, great aunts, and uncles. Brandon was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Carmen Hill and Barbara Rivera.

Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Westover Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Rescue League, the Metro West Learning Academy or to the Brandon Chauncy Sturdy Scholarship Fund.

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