"To all of Marlene's Family,I am so sorry to hear of Marlenes passing. She was a comfort to me when I lost my husband and so comforting to my family.We all know she is in a better place but we will miss her greatly.May God bless her family and comfort them as she did ours.With much sympathy."
In loving memory of
Rev. Marlene Brown
February 10, 2010
Marlene Kay Brown, one of two children of Beulah Ida (Zabilka) Potter and Charles Marvin Potter, was born on April 26, 1941 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She grew up in Cedar Rapids and graduated in 1959 from Washington High School. Marlene enjoyed music and her first musical instruction came from her father on accordion and her mother assisted with her violin instruction. She was the church organist at Kenwood Park Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids during her high school days and it extended into her college days at Coe College, where she majored in Pipe Organ.
Marlene later moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa where she resided for over 30 years. She was a member of the Riverside United Methodist Church where she was the church organist for many years. In 1981, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Personnel Management from Buena Vista College at Storm Lake, Iowa. During 1991 to 1997, she studied theology through the Saint Paul School of Theology. In 1991, her appointment in Iowa was the Woolstock Methodist Church, Duncombe Methodist Church, and Vincent Methodist Church. In 1996, she was appointed to the Town and Country Parish and served the Methodist churches in Leon, High Point, Van Wert, and Weldon, Iowa. In 2000, Marlene moved to Macedonia, Iowa where she was serving the Macedonia United Methodist Church, Henderson United Methodist Church, and Wheeler Grove United Church of Christ at rural Carson.
Marlene's enjoyments included RVing, taking care of animals, feeding the birds, reading, and gardening.
Marlene passed away on February 10, 2010 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 68 years, 9 months, and 14 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Beulah and Marvin Potter, and son Mark Allen Brown in 1994.
Marlene is survived by her son, Kenneth Brown and fiancé Melissa Harrison of Badger, Iowa; brother, Charles Potter of Muscatine, Iowa; six grandchildren, Autumn Brown of Macedonia, IA, Zachary McBride and Noah Brown, both of Ft. Dodge, IA, Amber Harrison, Brenden Harrison, and Cailey Harrison, all of Badger; nieces, Jamie Potter of Muscatine and daughters, Rebecca and Samantha, Rachel Potter of Ames, IA; nephew, Matthew Potter and Angela of Muscatine and children Genevieve and Nathan; cousins, Ivan Zabika and Doris Hager of Kentucky; and many friends.
A memorial fund has been established.
Tributes
"We are so sorry to hear of Marlene's passing. Although we live in Nebraska, we chose to have our daughters' baptism ceremonies performed by her in my hometown of Henderson. She will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Daric and Jill O'Neal Lennon and Jocelyn O'Neal"
"Thanks Kenny for the phone calls to let me know about Marlene. She was a great friend and we enjoyed many times together. My prays are with you all. I hope to see you in Fort Dodge if we aren't snowed in. "
"My family and I wish to extend our sincerest sympathy to Marlene's family as well as her church family. While I did not know her well, I do know that her caring and kindness through my mother's last months were a great comfort. The world is a better place because she was in it."
"Our sincere sympathy to all of Marlene's family. She was a friend to all co-pastors and and we looked up to her, one of God's childrens. Blessings, Pastor Orris Drake, Shelby/Persia UMC "
"I was sorry and surprised to hear about the death of Marlene. She was the church organist at Riverside UMC in Ft. Dodge when I was Pastor there from 1986-1989. She had a gift at being good at being fair with others. I'm sure the people she served will miss her greatly. God's mercy be with the family. Rev. Trevor Davis, Grace UMC, Burlington"