Catharine Baker-Brown,1925-2010

BAKER, BROWN, MILLER, TREANOR, RICE, HAMZE, KENEALY, BRADLEY, GEBHARDT

Posted By: Connie
Date: 7/25/2010 at 18:08:57

Creston News Advertiser, Creston, Iowa
Wednesday, July 14, 2010, Page 2A

Catharine (Miller) Baker-Brown, 85, of Galesburg, Illinois, formerly of Creston, died July 12, 2010. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 16, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston. Open visitation will be 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday with family present 5 to 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Christian Wake service and Rosary at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 34 and 25. Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army or a memorial mass in her name. Online condolences may be left at www.powersfh.com. Catharine (Miller) Baker-Brown, daughter of Helen (Treanor) and James Miller, was born May 23, 1925, in rural Adams County. Catharine attended rural schools in Adams County and graduated fom Mount St. Loretta High School in Council Bluffs. Catharine received her teaching certificate from the College of St. Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. After a brief teaching career, Catharine returned to Creston and worked for the J.C. Penney Company. On November 11, 1951, Catharine maried Dennis Joseph Baker, Jr. in Creston. Joseph preceded her in death on June 24, 1992. On August 5, 1995, Catharine married Charlie Brown of Galesburg, Illinois, and they spent their married life in rural Galesburg. Catharine was a homemaker while raising her family. She completed her associate degree at Southwesten Community College in 1981 and worked for Crossroads Mental Health Center for several years. Catharine was a CCD instructor and active in Union County 4-H activities and the Catholic churches in Creston. Catharine is survived by her husband, Charlie Brown; daughters, Annette (husband Rick) Rice and Alicia (husband Reda) Hamze of Omaha, Nebraska; sons, Paul (wife Lynn) Baker and John (wife Retta) Baker,all of Creston; grandchildren, Melissa Baker (Rocky Maloy), Meredith Baker, Kara Rice, Luke (wife Kim) Baker, Laura Baker and Ismail and Joseph Hamze; brother, Gene (wife Jean) Miller; sister, Pat (husband Phil) Kenealy; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Ellen Baker, Coletta Bradley and Mary Jean Gebhardt and many stepchildren, step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In addition to her first husband, Catharine was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Joan Baker in 1971; brothers, Jim and Gerald Miller; sister, Sr. Mary Rosarita and several brothers and sisters-in law.