Gwenny Brown

Gwenny Brown Age 91 of Modale Iowa passed away on Saturday, November 9, 2019 in North Carolina. Gwendolyne Jeanne (Hansen) Brown went to heaven on Saturday, November 9 after a long battle with dementia/Alzheimer’s at Lighthouse Village Assisted Living, Jacksonville, NC. She was born January 6, 1928 to Albert and Lola (Olinger) Hansen in Missouri Valley, IA and was raised in the farming community of Modale. Gwen married Kenneth L Brown in 1946 when he returned to the US after his liberation from a Japanese POW camp where he was interned for almost 4 years during WWII. His unit had been captured on Wake Island shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. From their union 4 children were born. Lola, Larry, Ronald and Reneé. Kenny passed away in 1954 leaving Gwenny to raise their children. She worked first in the lunchroom at Modale School until she was able to secure a position as a teller at Modale Savings Bank. She continued her banking career until her retirement in 1992. After retirement Gwenny dedicated her life to her family and also as a 20 year docent at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. She loved animals and cared for many stray cats. Gwenny moved to Newport, NC in 2012 to live with her daughter Reneé (and husband Kevin). She shared in their love of boating and the beaches. For several years she was able to volunteer for the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol walking the beach, searching for sea turtle tracks, followed by nest sitting/waiting for the nests to hatch. Although she dearly missed her life and friends in Modale she happily joined in on these new hobbies.

Gwenny was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenny, her brother Robert Hansen, her daughter Lola Clark, daughter-in-law Joyce Brown, and grandson Ken Brown.

She is survived by her children Larry (Martha), Ron, and Reneé (Kevin) Olkowski, grandson, Tony (Jana) Clark, 7 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren. She faced every challenge presented to her with great strength and humility.

Memorial Service 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Officiating Elders Carolyn and Donnie Bothwell

Music Selections “Home”, “Well Done”

The family would like to invite everyone to a time of lunch and fellowship at the Modale Methodist Church following the service.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Omaha Zoo Docent Program, 3701 South 10th Street, Omaha, NE 68107

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1 Condolence

  • Joshua Posted November 14, 2019 9:07 am

    My thoughts are with Gwenny’s family. It is so painful to lose someone, yet no one else can really know all that you feel except our Heavenly Father. He knows and feels your pain. He calls death an enemy and promises to remove it forever, Isaiah 25:8 “And he will swallow up death forever…” He also promised to wake up all our loved ones, in the memorial tombs, from death (Isaiah 26:19). What joy it will be to see our loved ones again and to enjoy life as our Creator purposed (Psalms 145:16). I  hope these words give all of you comfort.

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