Bernice Brown

Bernice Brown, 99, of Conrad, died February 3, 2010, at Oakview Nursing Home in Conrad, surrounded by her family while under the care of Iowa Hospice. A memorial service will be conducted by the family on February 10, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at the Conrad United Methodist Church of Conrad. There will be no visitation. Memorials may be directed to Conrad United Methodist Church, BCERTS, or Iowa Hospice. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bernice and her family. Phone 641-844-1234. Bernice Opal Otten was born August 29, 1910, the daughter of William and Viola (Maytag) Otten. She was born and raised in the Laurel area. She attended school in Laurel, graduating from high school in 1928. She enjoyed playing on the basketball team. On March 5, 1930, she was united in marriage to Kenneth W. Brown of Laurel. They celebrated 69 years together. They lived and farmed in the Melbourne and Laurel areas before moving to a farm near Conrad in 1939.Bernice was a member of the Conrad United Methodist Church and a member of the UMW. She was also a charter member of the Loyal Ladies Club and enjoyed lifetime friendships with the ladies in this club. She was a member of Tuesday Musical Club for several years, the Questers, and Felix Homemakers. Bernice was a crafter and an artist. She took a Commercial Art correspondence course and studied painting with local teachers. She was privileged to study sculpture under Christian Peterson, the artist who created the statue in the pond at Fisher Community Center in Marshalltown. She left beautiful examples of artwork with her children and grandchildren and also passed her talent on through children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that are following in her path.She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She took pride in her homemaking skills.Bernice is survived by her son, Jerry (Marian) Brown of Conrad; her daughter Donita (Arthur) Wise of Aurora, CO; her seven grandchildren: Bill (Kathy) Brown of Conrad; Roger (Ellen) Brown of Conrad, Jan (Alan) Yegge of Ankeny; Greg (Tammy) Brown of Des Moines, David (Dana) Brown of Gladbrook, John Hulse of Houston, TX, and Amy(Larry) Thorne of Aurora, CO; her three step-grandchildren Arthur, Joe, and Paul Wise of California, one step-great-granddaughter Sidney Tetrick; her ten great-grandchildren Nicole and Jared Brown of Des Moines, Chase, Chad, Isabelle and Julianne Brown of Conrad, Mackenzie and Morgan Brown of Gladbrook, and Matthew and Mike Yegge of Ankeny.Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her three sisters.