Rosita Brown

Rosita "Rose" Brown, 79, of 1211 Huron Trail, Sheboygan Falls, passed away on Friday morning, January 15, 2010 after a 14 year battle with Alzheimer's. She resided at Woodland Manor in Sheboygan Falls for the past 2 1/2 weeks. Rose was born December 14, 1930 in Burlington, WI., the only child of Lora "Woody" and Florence (Perkins) Woodard. She was an Appleton native, graduating from Appleton West High School in 1948. She married John F. Brown at First Congregational Church in Appleton on December 22, 1951. Rose was in the Girl Scouts and while in high school, she was the accompanist for the high school chorus. She also sang in the Chaminade Womens Chorus under Mr. Glockson, and was a member of the Order of Job's Daughters. Before her marriage she worked as a secretary at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, McKinley Sales and Eisle Engineering in Appleton. After her marriage she moved to New London where she lived for 5 years and worked as secretary to the CEO of American Plywood Corporation and later as secretary to the administrator to the Outagamie County Home. Rose taught Sunday school and was the organist for the United Methodist Church. She then moved to Almond for 3 years before moving to Whitehall for the next 8 years. As a concert pianist, she had 80 piano students per week, and was organist for the United Methodist Church. She was Worthy Matron of the local Eastern Star. She was a current member of the Fox Valley Masonic Shrine #10. In 1967 she moved to Sheboygan Falls where she resided until her death. She was assistant organist at Fountain Park United Methodist Church in Sheboygan, where she also sang in the choir, was secretary of the administrative board, taught Sunday school, and held various church positions. Rose started college at age 37 and graduated in two years from the Sheboygan County Teacher College. She then went on to Silver Lake College in Manitowoc and received a bachelor degree in elementary education. Rose then took additional courses beyond her bachelors at UW-Oshkosh and Silver Lake College. She taught special education classes at Lightfoot School in Sheboygan Falls for 18 years until her retirement in 1988. The next 14 years she spent the winters in Venice, FL and summers in Sheboygan Falls until her illness. Rose had many hobbies besides her love for music. She loved birds, flowers, knitting, crafts, antiquing, travel, and her boys. She visited 49 states, Europe, Central America, Canada, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and took several Caribbean cruises. Rose is survived by her husband John; two sons, John Jr. (Kathy) Brown, of Sheboygan Falls, David (Lorri) Brown of Cleveland; four grandchildren, Thomas J. Brown and Allison (Jeff) Ritt of Sheboygan, Lindsay Brown of Wellborn, FL, Lisa Brown of Cleveland; and one sister-in-law, Dorothy (Wendell) Greer of Lexington, KY; and two brothers-in-law, Rev. Harold (Helen) Brown of Indiana and Robert Ristau of Stoughton. Rose was preceded in death by a stillborn son and a miscarriage. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 11 am at Fountain Park United Methodist Church in Sheboygan with the Rev. Tom White officiating. Entombment will take place at Garden of Peace Mausoleum in the Town of Sheboygan. Friends may call at the Wenig Funeral Home in Sheboygan Falls on Monday evening from 4 - 8 and on Tuesday, at the church, at 10 am until the time of the service at 11 am. A memorial fund has been established in Rose's name. Online condolences may be sent to www.wenigfuneralhome.com The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home of Sheboygan Falls (920-467-3431) is serving the Brown family.Reception:Fountain Park United Methodist Church828 Erie Ave.Sheboygan, WI 53081

Service

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 11:00 AM
Fountain Park United Methodist Church
828 Erie Avenue Sheboygan 53081, United States