Karen Brown

Karen Maxine (Bruner) Brown, 67, was born April 13, 1941, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of Leland and Maxine (Parrott) Bruner and passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa.

Karen spent her younger years growing up in Atlantic and attending Grant Elementary and Atlantic High School, graduating in 1959.

On April 13, 1959, she was married to Dennis Brown at the Methodist Church in Bedford, Iowa. They lived on the family farm northeast of Cumberland raising a family with three children and then they moved to Cumberland. She held various jobs in the community including waitressing at the Chuck Wagon and at special night events at the Cumberland Community Center. She was a Cub Scout Leader, Library Board member and also a member of the Young Mother's Club.

Karen took great pride in her neat and clean home. She loved to read, go to the theater, and watch and feed hummingbirds and squirrels. She was always available to care for her grandchildren. At family gatherings humor could be could be heard constantly around the table. Karen was always the last one to sit down and eat.

She was a kind and generous woman who loved taking care of her family and friends. Family was very important to Karen, as a wife, mother, grandmother and a great-grandmother. Karen had unconditional love for her family and the support and quality time she gave so freely. Karen's grandchildren and great-grandchild will miss the special times they spent at Grandma's. Karen always planned different events to make their stay at Grandma's a memorable one. Karen will be missed very much by her family and friends.

Karen is survived by her husband, Dennis Brown of Cumberland, IA; her son, Alan Dale (Shirley) Brown of Massena, IA; her daughters, Julie (Jerry) Edwards of Cumberland, IA and Lila (Darren) Lassen of Red Oak, IA; her mother, Maxine Bruner of Atlantic, IA; her brother, Burdette Bruner (Bonnie) of Atlantic and their sons, Craig and Mike; her uncle, Burdette "Shorty" Parrott of Atlantic, IA; her aunt, Shirley (Lloyd) Jorgensen of Audubon, IA; her grandchildren, Lauren (Brian Driscoll) Vogl of Kansas City, MO, Waylon Vogl of Des Moines, IA, Willie Vogl, currently in the United States Army stationed in Iraq , Charlie Lassen of Red Oak, IA; her great-granddaughter, Patience Vogl of Rhome, Texas; her step-grandchildren, Chris & Jake Blaine of Massena, IA, and Joshua & Ronnie Edwards of Cumberland, IA; and many cousins, nieces, nephew, neighbors and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Leland Bruner; her uncle, John (Van) Bruner; her aunt, Bertha (Harold) Killion; her paternal grandparents, Milton and Kate Bruner of Anita, IA; her maternal grandparents, Horace and Vera Parrott; her maternal uncles, Lynn "Tuffy" Parrott, and Denny Parrott; and her maternal aunts, Ruby Millholin, Norene Jones, Mildred "Polly" Casey, Zoe Beltz, and Twila Worthington.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 12, 2009, in the chapel at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa. Visitation will be prior to the funeral from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., also at the funeral home. Burial of ashes will take place at Newlon's Grove Cemetery southwest of Cumberland, Iowa. Following the burial the family invites you to join them for a luncheon at the Cumberland Community Center.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.