Thelma Marie Brown, 92, passed away Tuesday, May 4, 1999 at the Kanawha
Community Home, Kanawha, Iowa.
Thelma, the daughter of John and Julia (Kutschara) McCorkle, was born December
13, 1906, on a farm east of Kanawha. She graduated from Kanawha High School in
1925 and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Thelma
began working in 1937 as a clerk in a grocery store and dress shop and was most
recently employed for many years at the drug store in Kanawha.
Thelma was united in marriage with Bernard Keefe in 1927. She was united in
marriage with Charles Brown on September 7, 1935 in Bethany, Missouri. The
couple made their home in Kanawha. Mr. Brown passed away in 1973.
Thelma was a member of the Lutheran Church in Kanawha, and a member of the
Evening Circle. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was
a Rebekah and a Past Noble Grand. Thelma enjoyed spending time with her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She collected elephants and also liked
shopping and spending time with people.
Thelma is survied by one daughter, Colleen Beukema of Kanawha, Iowa; two
grandsons: Mike and his wife, Sue of Kanawha and Mac and his wife, Jean of Des
Moines; four great-grandchildren: Bryan, Brent, Jessie and Lacey; and one
nephew, Jon McCorkle and his wife, Donna.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother, Kermit
McCorkle.