The Life of JOANNE BETHENE BROWN
Mrs. JoAnne Brown, 80, of Des Moines and Altoona, went to be with the Lord on the morning of December 27, 2006 at Taylor House in Des Moines. JoAnne’s faith, strength, and devotion to bettering the world stayed with her throughout her life and through her death. Funeral services will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, December 30, 2006 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 800 East 12th Street, with burial at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday, December 29, 2006 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, with an Order of the Eastern Star service at 7 p.m. JoAnne was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Darrell D. Brown D.O., her son Dr. Dana Brown D.O., her parents Kenneth and Fern Carpenter, and her sisters Barbara (Melvin) Mayfield and Peggy Gridley Shoemaker. JoAnne Bethene Carpenter was born September 8, 1926, in Edison, Nebraska, and cherished her farm upbringing throughout her life. She went to a country school before moving to Arapahoe, NE, where she met her enduring love, Darrell Brown, and operated a beauty shop. JoAnne and Darrell were married on April 4, 1948, upon his return from service in the Navy during World War II and moved to Des Moines. JoAnne and Darrell were partners through education and more than 30 years of medical practice. She managed their family practice and maintained a lasting connection to Des Moines General Hospital, where Darrell was Chief of Staff. Following Darrell’s unexpected death in 1983, JoAnne moved to Decatur City where she was active in the Decatur United Methodist church and volunteered teaching kindergarteners before moving to Altoona in 2004. JoAnne’s devotion to her family was unbounded. She is survived by her children Darrell (Anita) Brown II, Kevin (Chris) Brown, Kelli (Brett) Marshall, Kristi Brown, Dixie Becker; many foster children; grandchildren Nathan (Kelly) Brown, Nicole (Tom ) Lamb, Neil Brown, Justin (Sharón) Brown, Tiffany (Brian) Brown, Jamie (Megan) Cantrell, Marc Cantrell, Troy Cantrell, Jeremy Brown, Skye Brown, Brady Marshall, Kasidy Marshall, James (Lori) Becker III, Darrell (Teresa) Becker; sixteen great grandchildren, and her brother Kenneth Carpenter of Australia. JoAnne believed and acted in service to her country, community, family and God. She cared for her own children, foster children, and many others in her community and around the world. JoAnne was a member of the Wesley United Methodist church in Des Moines for more than 50 years. She volunteered throughout her life, taking particular pleasure in donating her home-made quilts and school packs to needy children. She was a 50 year member of Order of the Eastern Star, White Shrine of Jerusalem, Ladies Auxiliary of VFW, Ladies Auxiliary of the Mystic Shrine, My Brother’s Keeper, United Methodist Women, and numerous other groups. Memorial donations can be made to the Wesley United Methodist church or to the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine.