04-29-2020 Lois Brown, 95

Private Family Graveside Celebration of Life Services will be held for Lois Brown, age 95, of Lenox, who passed away April 21, 2020 at the Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. Open visitation was held Friday at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Due to Covid-19 there will be no family present. Please make your visit brief and limit the number in the building to 10 or less. Interment was held at the North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox, Iowa. Memorials may be given in her name. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox, where we ‘Celebrate Life’.
Lois Maxine (Brokaw) Brown was born September 2, 1924, at the family farm north of Mercer Center.  She was the 3rd of 10 children born to Chas W. and Annetta Mae (Jones) Brokaw.  As the family was celebrating Our Risen Jesus on Easter Sunday, Lois suffered a devastating stroke. She passed away on April 21,2020 at Every Step Hospice House in Creston, Iowa surrounded by her children. She grew up attending country school until 6th grade and then attended Lenox School graduating with the class of 1942.  While in High School she was active in chorus, band and basketball.  She played on the 1939 and 1941 State Basketball Tournament team and was among those honored in 2019 at the Girls Basketball Tournament 100th Anni-versary Celebration.
She admired her coach and mentor Coach K.U. Parker.  She learned her work ethic at a young age having a variety of jobs starting at the age of 12. Two weeks after her High School Graduation she started a job at the First National Bank and worked there for 33 1/2 years.  After retiring from the bank she worked at the Hy-Vee grocery in Creston as a demo lady where she got to enjoy the people.
She joined the Methodist Church in 1936 making her one of the longest active members for 84 years.  She held many different offices and was very involved with Church activities including the ladies groups and being the Church treasurer for 40 years.
She married her High School sweetheart, Alvin “Shorty” Brown, on November 19, 1944 at the Brokaw family home. They moved to their farm north of town and built their life together “Living the American Dream”.   Here they raised their 5 children, Diana, Jolene, Cindy, Kurt and Tacy.  With all the farm and home chores her favorite saying became “It’s more fun when we do it together”.  A saying  that even the Grandchildren were raised with and learned to love.  Lois spent many hours in her garden raising vegetables but her real joy was her beautiful flowers and many people passing by saw her “best view”.  Besides her flowers, she was well known for delivering eggs, dressing chickens, love of Christmas lights, and running out of gas on her many trips to town.
Things she enjoyed were square dancing, their pot luck group with lots of memorable 4th of July Celebrations, sending greeting cards and letters of encouragement,  sewing, family Easter egg hunts, wiener roast & bonfires,  playing cards, neighborhood club, and playing games with the grandkids.  Another love was quilting and she made several for gifts.
She was a life time supporter of Lenox High School Activities and enjoyed all sports, always cheering them on.  GO TIGERS!!  Of course, the Iowa Hawkeye were a big part of her life too.  GO HAWKS!!  And now UNI has become her favorite.  GO PANTHERS!  Lois helped start and always look forward to the Alumni Banquet….visiting was one of her strong qualities.
Lois helped organize the Lenox Community Trust, was a member of Eastern Star, PEO,  and Ambulance board.
Lois’s family was always most important to her.  She was very proud of all her grandchildren and was their biggest supporter.
Left to cherish her memory are children Diana (Kirk) Maharry, Jolene (Stan) Brown, Cindy Heuett, Kurt Brown, and Tacy (Randy) Samo, 15 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren.  Brother Paul (Marilyn) Brokaw and sister Cathy Gavend, Sisters-in-law Suzy Brokaw, Kate Buroker and Liz Brokaw and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Shorty in 2011, Grandson Jeremy Maharry, Granddaughter-in-law Marty Brown, her parents, Chas. W. and Mae Brokaw, parents-in-law Joe and Bess Brown, an infant brother, and brothers Ollie, Glenn, Harold, Frank, Chub and sister Lucille Roe, sisters-in-law Arda Brown, Lola Brokaw, Helen Brokaw and brother-in-laws Lavern Brown and Dean “Judge” Roe, her nephew Tim Brokaw.
“Go Tigers!” To THE example of what it means
to be a Lenox Tiger and so much more!Private Family Graveside Celebration of Life Services will be held for Lois Brown, age 95, of Lenox, who passed away April 21, 2020 at the Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. Open visitation was held Friday at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Lenox from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Due to Covid-19 there will be no family present. Please make your visit brief and limit the number in the building to 10 or less. Interment was held at the North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox, Iowa. Memorials may be given in her name. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox, where we ‘Celebrate Life’.
Lois Maxine (Brokaw) Brown was born September 2, 1924, at the family farm north of Mercer Center.  She was the 3rd of 10 children born to Chas W. and Annetta Mae (Jones) Brokaw.  As the family was celebrating Our Risen Jesus on Easter Sunday, Lois suffered a devastating stroke. She passed away on April 21,2020 at Every Step Hospice House in Creston, Iowa surrounded by her children. She grew up attending country school until 6th grade and then attended Lenox School graduating with the class of 1942.  While in High School she was active in chorus, band and basketball.  She played on the 1939 and 1941 State Basketball Tournament team and was among those honored in 2019 at the Girls Basketball Tournament 100th Anni-versary Celebration.
She admired her coach and mentor Coach K.U. Parker.  She learned her work ethic at a young age having a variety of jobs starting at the age of 12. Two weeks after her High School Graduation she started a job at the First National Bank and worked there for 33 1/2 years.  After retiring from the bank she worked at the Hy-Vee grocery in Creston as a demo lady where she got to enjoy the people.
She joined the Methodist Church in 1936 making her one of the longest active members for 84 years.  She held many different offices and was very involved with Church activities including the ladies groups and being the Church treasurer for 40 years.
She married her High School sweetheart, Alvin “Shorty” Brown, on November 19, 1944 at the Brokaw family home. They moved to their farm north of town and built their life together “Living the American Dream”.   Here they raised their 5 children, Diana, Jolene, Cindy, Kurt and Tacy.  With all the farm and home chores her favorite saying became “It’s more fun when we do it together”.  A saying  that even the Grandchildren were raised with and learned to love.  Lois spent many hours in her garden raising vegetables but her real joy was her beautiful flowers and many people passing by saw her “best view”.  Besides her flowers, she was well known for delivering eggs, dressing chickens, love of Christmas lights, and running out of gas on her many trips to town.
Things she enjoyed were square dancing, their pot luck group with lots of memorable 4th of July Celebrations, sending greeting cards and letters of encouragement,  sewing, family Easter egg hunts, wiener roast & bonfires,  playing cards, neighborhood club, and playing games with the grandkids.  Another love was quilting and she made several for gifts.
She was a life time supporter of Lenox High School Activities and enjoyed all sports, always cheering them on.  GO TIGERS!!  Of course, the Iowa Hawkeye were a big part of her life too.  GO HAWKS!!  And now UNI has become her favorite.  GO PANTHERS!  Lois helped start and always look forward to the Alumni Banquet….visiting was one of her strong qualities.
Lois helped organize the Lenox Community Trust, was a member of Eastern Star, PEO,  and Ambulance board.
Lois’s family was always most important to her.  She was very proud of all her grandchildren and was their biggest supporter.
Left to cherish her memory are children Diana (Kirk) Maharry, Jolene (Stan) Brown, Cindy Heuett, Kurt Brown, and Tacy (Randy) Samo, 15 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren.  Brother Paul (Marilyn) Brokaw and sister Cathy Gavend, Sisters-in-law Suzy Brokaw, Kate Buroker and Liz Brokaw and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Shorty in 2011, Grandson Jeremy Maharry, Granddaughter-in-law Marty Brown, her parents, Chas. W. and Mae Brokaw, parents-in-law Joe and Bess Brown, an infant brother, and brothers Ollie, Glenn, Harold, Frank, Chub and sister Lucille Roe, sisters-in-law Arda Brown, Lola Brokaw, Helen Brokaw and brother-in-laws Lavern Brown and Dean “Judge” Roe, her nephew Tim Brokaw.
“Go Tigers!” To THE example of what it means
to be a Lenox Tiger and so much more!