Mary JoAnn (Rowe) Brown (1937-2018)

BROWN, ROWE, HAMILTON, WEIRES, AFSETH, HARVEY, SIMONSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 11/10/2018 at 14:19:08

From Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

Mary JoAnn Rowe Brown died Saturday, November 3, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. Services will be Thursday, November 8, at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover Ave., in Ames at 11:00, with visitation an hour prior to the service.

JoAnn was born March 19, 1937, in Williston, North Dakota, the daughter of Harold and Ellen (Ringey) Rowe. She attended elementary and secondary school in Stanley, North Dakota, and graduated from Minot State Teachers College, in 1958 with majors in music and business education. She taught elementary music two years in Grand Forks, North Dakota, (1958-60) and one year in Guthrie Center, Iowa (1960-61). On December 27, 1960, she married Bernard C. Brown in Stanley. They lived in Ames for 58 years.

JoAnn was the music coordinator at Saint Cecilia Church in Ames for 25 years, had a painting and wallpapering business for 10 years, and was a secretary at Iowa State University for 10 years. After retiring from ISU, she taught computer classes for several years in the Osher Lifelong Learning program.

JoAnn's kind heart and quick wit were enjoyed by all who knew her. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. JoAnn enjoyed sewing and made gorgeous quilts. She loved music, and many will recall her beautiful singing voice. She was a generous and kind woman who volunteered often. One of her favorite areas of service was teaching English to immigrants. Her job at Iowa State often involved helping international students transition to life in Ames.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Bernard; four children, Greg (Marion) Brown of Charlotte, North Carolina, Sally (Mike) Hamilton of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Karen (Rick) Weires of Dubuque, Iowa, and Mike (Tina) Brown of Southlake, Texas; nine grandchildren, and two step-grandsons. Also surviving are two sisters, Ardis Afseth of Minot, North Dakota, and Debra (Mike) Harvey of Everett, Washington, and one brother, Conrad Rowe, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert Rowe, and her sister Betty Simonson.

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