Carol Brown

Carol Brown was born February 13, 1938, the daughter of Howard Orlie and Elna Crisman, and died on April 29, 2024, at Cass Health in Atlantic, Iowa, after a short battle with liver cancer.

Carol grew up on her parents’ farm and graduated from Exira High School in 1956. After graduation, Carol went to live in Des Moines, where she worked for Bankers Life. On June 28, 1969, she was united in marriage with Todd Brown. They made their home east of Exira before moving to town. She worked at the bank in Adair before Carol and Todd were blessed with three children: Michael in 1974, Kim in 1978, and Teresa in 1981. Beginning shortly after Teresa was born, Carol worked at the Exira Care Center in the laundry room until she retired in 2015. During that time, she also worked at Casey’s for a few years and sold Avon.

Carol loved sitting outside in the summer evenings, and for many years enjoyed morning coffee with her neighbor. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, word finds and playing cards.

Carol’s most-loved joys were her 5 grandchildren, who enjoyed having sleepovers at her house when they were younger. Her granddaughter Keeley said she would always play cards with them after supper. Ayden said he will always remember that she made it to every sporting event they were in. All the grandkids loved, and would request, pumpkin bars – which she would make on a moment’s notice. Kenzie would always say she was Grandma’s favorite because they shared the same birthday, but Grandma would always joke with her and say, “I love you all the same.” At holidays the grandkids would always request grandma’s orange tapioca salad, which they always got. When Carol got sick, Kaydee and Keeley spent a lot of time going to visit her and taking her ice cream when she asked. She also enjoyed calling and talking to each of them on the phone.

Carol loved the holidays, and her favorite was the 4th of July because she got to see so many old friends and family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her mother- and father-in-law Harold and Nellie Brown, her brother and sister-in-law Marvin and Betty Crisman, her sister-in-law Dona Crisman, her sister-in-law Beverly Brown, her nephew Gary Smith, and several cousins.

She leaves behind her husband Todd, children Michael of Exira, Kim and Teresa both of Atlantic, grandchildren Kael Pedersen of Ankeny, Ayden Brown of West Des Moines, Mackenzie Brown of Atlantic, Keeley and Kaydee Pedersen of Atlantic, sister- and brother-in-law Betty and Raymond Vais of Exira, niece Diana Smith of Cape Coral, Florida, niece Verla Vais (Kevin Cunningham), great nieces Megan and Monica and great nephew Christopher Cunningham of Des Moines, Iowa, and several cousins.


A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Exira Christian Church, with interment to follow at the Exira Cemetery. Following the committal service, the family will greet friends with a luncheon in the fellowship hall of the Exira Christian Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Carol Brown Family and mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA.

Services are handled with the Schmidt-Kessler Funeral Home of Exira, IA.