Winifred M. Brown

Winifred M. Brown
July 14, 1918 - October 23, 2012
Sigourney, Iowa
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. October 26, 2012 at Powell Funeral Home - Sigourney
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. October 27, 2012 at Lancaster Christian Church
Interment: October 27, 2012 at Pennington Cemetery
SIGOURNEY-Winifred M. Brown, age 94, of Sigourney, died Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at her home. Winifred was born July 14, 1918, in rural Ollie, to Raymond E. and Bessie (Clingan) Sheridan. She attended Doggett rural school through eighth grade, graduated from Sigourney High School in 1936 and received her secretary and bookkeeping degree from Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines in 1938. On September 14, 1940 she was united in marriage to Calvin Leroy Brown at the Sigourney Christian Church parsonage by Rev. Leo Potter. Winifred was employed as a bookkeeper at Adam's Plumbing in Des Moines, Barker Poultry Equipment Company in Ottumwa and did two years of clerical work in the Keokuk County Auditor's office in Sigourney. In 1940, the couple established their home near Martinsburg where they had a poultry buying business for three years. After Leroy returned from the service they moved to the Hayesville area and the poultry business. In 1948 they moved to a farm near Lancaster and established Brown Feed and Supply and also raised broilers and laying hens. Winifred and Leroy worked side by side in the business, retiring in 1982 after 42 years in business. She was a devoted mother of two sons, Larry L. and Thomas J. Brown. Winifred was a member of Lancaster Christian Church since November of 1932, where she taught Sunday School, was active in the CWF and in 1978 was a member of the Lancaster Church Building Committee. She was also a member of the Chastine Goodwill Club, Keokuk County Farm Bureau, Keokuk County AARP and Lancaster School Heritage Foundation. Survivors include her husband: Leroy of Sigourney; two sons: Larry and wife Marcia of Harrisonburg, Virginia and Thomas and wife Barb of Bay City, Texas; four grandchildren: Jason and wife Lisa Brown, Derek and wife Molly Brown, Kim Brown and Ashley Brown and four great grandchildren: Isabel and Petra Brown and Nora Lee and Keegan Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter: Dawn Desiree Brown. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2012, at the Lancaster Christian Church, with Revs. Dave Matteson and Mark Doll officiating. Burial will be at Pennington Cemetery in rural Sigourney. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 26, 2012, at Powell Funeral Home in Sigourney. A memorial fund has been established for Lancaster Christian Church or the Sigourney Public Library. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Sigourney is caring for Winifred and her family. Condolences may be e-mailed at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.