Barbara Jean Brown, 92, of Galesburg, died at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Seminary Manor in Galesburg.
She was born March 3, 1931, in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Earl William and Grace Emiline (Varney) Meerdink. Barbara was reared and educated in Muscatine, graduating from Muscatine High School in 1949. She attended Cornell College and the University of Iowa. Barbara married Guilbert Harry Brown on September 11, 1951, in Muscatine. He preceded her in death on April 3, 1994. She was a dedicated homemaker, mother, and caretaker.
Left to cherish her memory is one son, Barry (Camille) Brown of Nashua, New Hampshire; one son-in-law, Steve Nelson of Holmen, Wisconsin; one daughter, Lynn (Tom) Cook of Galesburg; one daughter-in-law, Carrie Birckbichler of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; 10 grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 6 step-great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Skip (Mary) Meerdink of Longwood, Florida, and John (Louise) Meerdink of Muscatine. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Guilbert Brown; one daughter, Claudia Nelson; and one son, Guilbert L. Brown.
Barbara loved gardening and traveling. She enjoyed singing and listening to Jazz or Big Band Music. Barbara was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Galesburg. She volunteered in various community clubs and events of Galesburg, including the American Legion Auxiliary, the Salvation Army Board of Directors, the American Cancer Society Memorial Chair, Honorary Memory Walk Chair, YMCA Board of Directors from 1971-1976, and was a 1987 Thomas B. Herring Community Service award recipient. Barbara was also a member and past president of the Galesburg Junior Women’s Club and the Galesburg Pilot Club International.
Cremation will be accorded. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory. A celebration of life/luncheon will follow at the Thomas Legacy Center at Watson Thomas Funeral Home. Private family burial of her remains will take place at Greenwood Cemetery in Muscatine. Memorials may be made to the Knox County Humane Society, the Galesburg Pilot Club International, Galesburg American Legion Auxiliary, Galesburg Salvation Army, or First Presbyterian Church. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.