Per the wishes of Brian and his family, cremation rites have been accorded under the care of Mitchell Family Funeral Home and there will be no formal services. A burial for friends and family will be held at a later date at the Badger Hill Cemetery in Gladbrook. Memorials may be directed to either the Cedar Valley Hospice or to the Badger Hill Cemetery in Gladbrook for new trees to plant. For online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

Brian Wood de Silva was born on January 9, 1947, in Los Angeles, California, to parents Theodore Manuel de Silva and Barbara Jean Wood. His father passed away at a young age, and Brian was raised by his stepfather Dean McMartin. The family relocated to Iowa, where Brian graduated from Beaman Conrad High School. He was always a hard worker, and in additional to working for Grundy County as a maintainer for 23 years, he also did farming and trucking. Brian enjoyed tractors and guns, and was a member of the Smoky Ridge Muzzle Loaders, past treasurer of the Iowa Black Powder Federation and a member of the National Rifle Association. Brian was united in marriage to Pamela Somers in 1968. They divorced in 2015.

In second grade, Brian met a girl named Emily and they dated from seventh to twelfth grade before heading down different paths. Years later, fate brought them back together, and they were blessed to share the last several years of love together.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved Emily (Rowe) Northam; his two children: Brian King (Cari) de Silva, of Marion, and Lisa (Steve) Mahlberg, of Glidden; grandchildren: Kolten de Silva, of Marion, John Mahlberg, of Dawson, Lauren (Andrew) Irlbeck, of Pella, and Kristin (Nick Casey) Mahlberg, of Marion; great granddaughter: Navy and one great grandson on the way. He is also survived by siblings: Brent (Janet) de Silva, Brad (Lynn) McMartin and Barbara “Babsy” McMartin (Paul Cruse).

Brian is preceded in death by his dad, Theodore de Silva; his mom and stepdad, Barbara and Dean McMartin and his brother, Bruce de Silva.