Marian Louise Brown

Marian Louise Brown, 80, of Conrad, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Memorial services will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. A visitation will take place prior to the service from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for distribution to Marians favorite charities. For more information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Marian and her family. Marian Hopper was born on August 25, 1933, in Kankakee, Illinois to George and Mildred Pillman Hopper. She graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1951. On June 1st, 1952, she was united in marriage to Jerry Brown at First Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown. They moved to the farm in Conrad in 1954 when Jerry came back from service in the Korean War. Marian worked on the farm raising hogs and horses and had a great love for animals throughout her life. She had many beloved dogs and never let a stray cat go hungry. After raising her five children, Marian worked as an assistant librarian at the elementary school in Conrad for 18 years where she enjoyed spending time with the children. Marian was active in the Conrad United Methodist Church including serving as a Sunday school teacher, and was a member of the Conrad American Legion Auxiliary Unit 681. She was also a 4H Leader and led her childrens Girl Scout, Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops. She spoke often of her years as a Girl Scout troop leader, especially helping her troop earn money for trips to the East and West Coasts. Other memberships included the American Quarter Horse Association, Iowa Quarter Horse Association, Iowa Breeder Cutting Association and the Iowa Race Horse Association. Marian enjoyed spending time with her family especially when she and Jerry used to host the grandchildren for a week in the summer. Marian captured her life in photos and enjoyed sharing these with her family. In the 1970s, Marian and Jerry hosted two foreign exchange students from Amsterdam. One of Marians favorite memories was traveling to Europe in 2001 to be reunited with the students and their parents. Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 61 years, Jerry. Children: Bill (Kathy) Brown of Conrad, Jan (Alan) Yegge of Ankeny, Greg (Tammy) Brown of Des Moines, David (Dana) Brown of Gladbrook and Roger (Ellen) Brown of Conrad. Grandchildren: Chase (Brittany) Brown, Chad Brown, Matt Yegge, Mike Yegge, Nicole (Aaron) Kerr, Jared Brown, MacKenzie Brown (James Caron), Morgan Brown, Isabelle Brown and Julianne Brown. Great grandchildren: Avery Brown and Braxton Caron and step great grandchild Daemion Caron. Sister in law: Donita (Art) Wise, niece: Amy Thorne, cousin: Clifford (Ethel) Zimmerman, and her beloved German Shepherd Tycho. Marian is preceded in death by both of her parents; her Aunt who helped raise her, Lucy Shaffer; and nephew John Hulse.