Dorothy Darlene Bennett Manatt, age 86 of Brooklyn, died Sunday, June 14, 2009 at Brooklyn Community Estates following an extended illness. Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. Thursday, June 18, 2009 at Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn with Chaplain Donita Payne-Hostetler officiating. Burial will be in the Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:30 – 7:30 P.M. Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established.

She is survived by her children, Mary Sue Kauffman of Holiday Lake, Jim Manatt (Anne) of Brooklyn, Donna Kalinay (Bob) of Chelsea and Alice Hall (Rick Warden) of Brooklyn; 15 grandchildren, Jeremy and Jennifer Kauffman, Todd and Tom Schmidt, Marcy VanMeter, Kim, Jackie, and Jamie Manatt, Tina and Buck Austin, Amy Holland, Craig Kalinay, Sonny and Scott Hall and Serena Morehead; 23 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Betty Osborne (Gene) of Brooklyn and Mary VanHamme (Bob Hupfeld) of Belle Plaine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband James C. Manatt, a daughter Connie Manatt Schmidt, a brother John Bennett and a sister Ruth Ehlers, and a son-in-law, Lowell Kauffman.

Dorothy Darlene Bennett was born March 26, 1923 in Poweshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Bernie and Anna Iezek Bennett. She received her education in the Poweshiek County schools and married James Cyril Manatt on June 20, 1942 in Cedar Rapids. Besides being a wonderful wife and “the best mom”, Dorothy did painting and hung wallpaper. She enjoyed bowling, gardening, growing roses, and caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren