Marie Catherine Brown

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Marie Catherine Brown, 90, formerly of Altoona, Wisconsin died March 27, 2007 at Osseo Assisted Living Facility in Osseo, Wisconsin.
 

Marie was born November 5, 1916 to Dr. and Mrs. James Jenson in Chicago, Illinois. When she was 18 months old, they moved downstate to Saybrook, Illinois where she and her brother were raised. She graduated from Saybrook Community High School, attended MacMurray College for Women in Jacksonville, Illinois then transferred to Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. She graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She taught music, art and physical education to students in Bellflower and Georgetown, Illinois for four years. 
 
   In the summer of 1944, Marie enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as a Wave. 

 
Hunter College was the boot camp for Waves and from there she was trained as a Storekeeper on the campus of the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana. When assigned to a naval base in Norman, Oklahoma, she did a yeoman's work. She was proud of the twenty-seven months she served her country. She met and married Theodore (Ted) Brown, a Chief Petty Officer while in Norman. After they were both honorably discharged at the end of the war in 1945, they returned Altoona, Wisconsin, Ted's hometown, where they spent the rest of their lives.
 
She was a member of the Altoona United Methodist Church for 60 years. She was active in women's societies and started "The Senior Crew" for older church members and people from the community. As church organist for many years, she played for services, weddings and funerals. Marie taught piano to area children and maintained friendships with many of her students. As well as music, art was a large part of her life, and then she discovered, while writing family stories, that she liked the art of writing the best, taking classes at the old senior center and later in the L.E. Phillips Center. She was a member of the Western Wisconsin Christian Writers Guild and thoroughly enjoyed learning about writing from other members and guest speakers.
 
Marie loved the out of doors and spent many summers at the cottage on Black Dan Lake, even after Ted's death. The two of them toured all over the United States, Alaska and Canada. In later years they spent 3 months each winter in Palmetto, Fl. Marie continued traveling, visiting England, Scotland and Italy.
 
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, her parents and her brother, Paul.
 
She is survived by two sons whom she dearly loved; James (Sally) of Kayenta, AZ and Richard (Shirley) of Osseo, Wisconsin. Shirley and Sally were like her own daughters. There are 5 grandchildren: Ray (Lydia Michele)Brown, Jennifer Marie (Rick) Quiver, Richard Brown, Scott (Kristen)Brown and Kimberly Marie Brown. She was honored to have her 2 granddaughters given her name as their middle name. She is further survived by six great grandchildren: Carla, Samantha and T.J. Brown and Patrick, Koi and James Steven Quiver. She is also survived by her brother's family: Arleen Jenson, sister-in-law, of Saybrook, Il, nephews Michael (Nancy) and Gregory (Kathleen) both of Chicago, IL, Ann Young (Mike) and Julie Jenson of Saybrook.
 
After Ted's death, Marie was "adopted" by the Joe Rosenberg family; the family of dear friend, Virginia Harris; and the George Wright family. They truly made her feel a part of each family. Three special friends are to be remembered; Flossie Schroeder Behrens, Tamara Kuhn and James Woodington, a neighbor and friend for over 50 years. There are other relatives, many friends and neighbors old and young and each had a special place in Marie's heart.
 
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at Altoona United Methodist Church with the Reverend Keith Aurand officiating. Family and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening at Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home and at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the service.
 
The family prefers memorials be given to The Salvation Army.
 
Family and friends may send condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com.
 
Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.