Connie Jo Brown

Connie Brown, age 70 of Brooklyn, passed away on Friday morning, March 14, 2025 surrounded by her family. Visitation: 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn. Funeral Services: 10:30 A.M. Friday, March 21, 2025, at Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn with Rev. John Dodds officiating. Burial: Hazelwood Cemetery, Grinnell. A memorial fund has been established. Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn is assisting the family with arrangements.

Connie is survived by her daughter, Shannon Garringer of Malcom, and her son Will Brown of Des Moines, her German daughter, Helena Stenzel of Germany; two granddaughters, Taelyn and Haeley Garringer; her siblings, Alan Klein (Mary) of Ladora, Kevin Klein (Barb) of Urbandale and Kris Loschen (Rick) of Brooklyn; and her little dog, “Buddy”. Also surviving are nieces and nephews, Carrie Steinmetz (Matt), Jennifer Boyer (Matt), Dustin Klein (Katelyn), Kelsey Klein, Aaron Anderson (Lisa), Sarissa Riedel, Scott Riedel (Emily), Christian Loschen, Camdon Loschen, and Hunter Loschen, along with several great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, and a stepson, Tim Brown.

Connie Jo Klein was born June 7,1954 in Grinnell, Iowa the oldest of four children born to Christian “Gene” and Theresa Roth Klein. She started life on the farm and moved to Brooklyn when she was about 5 years old. She received her education in the Brooklyn schools and graduated from BGM with the Class of 1972. She attended Capri Cosmetology School in Cedar Rapids, then opened the Beauty Bar salon in Brooklyn. She moved on to working as a spot welder on the microwave line with Amana Refrigeration. After a time Connie decided to care for children in her home. She worked with her sister at Sweet Treats and Eats in Brooklyn. She loved baking and cooking for others, and this suited her interests just fine. She cooked at the Elks Lodge in Grinnell, and the Quarter Post Restaurant. Later she became manager of the Sleep Inn Hotel in Brooklyn, and several other hotels prior to retirement. Once she retired, she returned to childcare and also was a school secretary.

Connie was always busy, whether at her official jobs or her favorite pastimes. She loved gardening, and her flowers and plants, canning the produce of those gardens, attending her granddaughters’ dance events and volleyball games, and football and wrestling of other family members. She enjoyed the Smoky Mountain trips with family the last several years. She would relax at the cabin and sit and watch the world go by. The bears were a special treat to watch. She collected teddy bears and most recently gnomes. In earlier years Connie was a member of the Jaycees, becoming a regional director for the organization.

She will be intensely missed by her family and her many friends.