Obituaries : Annette F. Hopkins

Annette F. Hopkins, 85, of Brandon, IA, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton, IA.

Annette was born on January 27, 1940, in Iowa City, IA, the daughter of Gilbert L. and Fay O. (Babcock) Wright. She grew up on a farm just south of Brandon, IA, and was a 1958 graduate of Brandon High School. On September 5, 1959, Annette married Cyrus Hopkins at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton, IA. They made their home in rural Brandon, IA, where they farmed for many years. Annette loved farm life; when she wasn't caring for her family, she wasn't afraid to help on the farm, including feeding the calves they raised over the years.

Annette loved and valued her family over everything else and always put the family before material possessions. Her family was the most important aspect of her life, and she cherished time spent with Cy, her children, and grandchildren. Annette enjoyed playing cards, sewing, gardening, feeding birds, and making pies for family and friends.

She is survived by her children: Teresa Hopkins, Mauston, WI; Mark (Cindy) Hopkins, Brandon, IA; Andy (Janette) Hopkins, Brandon, IA; Donna (Kevin) Smith, Colorado Springs, CO; Wayne (Lisa) Hopkins, Mount Auburn; IA, Matt (Theresa) Hopkins, Rowley, IA; and Emily Hopkins, Cedar Rapids, IA; fifteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, a sister, Yvonne Erger, Vinton, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

Annette is preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Fay Wright, her husband, Cyrus Hopkins, two sons, Carl and Mike Hopkins, a brother, Jim Wright, and a brother-in-law, Earl Erger.

Visitation will be held from 4 PM until 7 PM on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Reiff Family Center - Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence, IA. A Rosary will be said at 3:30 PM on Thursday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 9th, at St. John's Catholic Church in Independence, IA. Burial will be held at the Brandon Cemetery in Brandon, IA.

To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.