Brenda Brown, 72
Born: May 1, 1940
Died: May 11, 2012

Brenda Carrie (Zehner) Brown, 72, of Dowagiac, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph on Friday, May 11, 2012.

Brenda was born on May 1, 1940, to the late Harold and Betty (Throwbridge) Zehner in Dowagiac. She was the eldest of eight children.

While growing up, Brenda worked at US 12 Truck Stop, where she met the late John Dallas Brown. They wed on Sept. 6, 1957, in Niles and together had four children.

After Brenda had children she became a homemaker. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grand children. She enjoyed camping and being outdoors. When she was home she frequently spent her time crocheting, reading, doing crossword puzzles and watching wildlife programs. Brenda was a member of Coloma Bible Church and enjoyed spending time reading her Bible with friends and attending Bible study.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Betty Zehner, and her husband, John Brown.

Brenda is survived by her children, Cleao (Fred) Peterson of North Adams, Betty (Michael) Knapp of Dowagiac, Alice (Dana Knapp) Brown of Dowagiac and John (Stormey) Brown of Berrien Springs; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren with one more on the way; and siblings, Sandy (Walter) Hatfield of Benton Harbor, Kay (Richard) Gatchell of Coloma, Ruth Marie (Chuck) Rantaz of Watervliet, Harold (Pam) Zehner of Watervliet, Mike Zehner of Watervliet, Phillip (Joni) Zehner of Watervliet and George (Holly) Zehner of Watervliet.

Memorial donations may be made in Brenda’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 16, at Mission Hills Memorial Chapel in Niles at 2 p.m. with Pastor John Kasper officiating.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family, upload a photo or write a letter of condolence may do so at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or at  www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.