Branderhorst, the city’s recreation director, will retire on June 30.

She was honored during Monday’s City Council meeting at which Mayor Dave Flattery presented her with a retirement proclamation plaque.

“I had a great job,” Branderhorst said during the meeting.

“I worked, lived and breathed working for the city of Fort Dodge,” she added.

She said her job enabled her to work with generations of families.

Branderhorst began working for the city on April 1, 1980. She served as a program supervisor, then as recreation superintendent. She then became director, initially of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and more recently of the Department of Recreation Services.

Flattery said her work touched every aspect of parks and recreation. He added that her greatest accomplishment was retaining the girls state softball tournament in Fort Dodge for another 20 years.

Last year, Branderhorst played a key role in reaching an agreement with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union that will keep the tournament at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex through 2045. The agreement was announced in September.

After saluting Branderhorst, the council approved the appointment of her replacement, Hannah Angstrom.

Angstrom was most recently the city’s assistant recreation services director.

She joined the city staff in 2015 as marketing and operation supervisor in the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. She later became recreation superintendent.

She will become the recreation services director on July 1. Her initial salary will be $99,486.