Arlene J. Brown, 64, passed away November 14, 2013 at home, surrounded by her family. She fought a brave and long battle with cancer and is now pain free.
Arlene was born in a 1949 Buick on the way to the hospital in Saginaw on March 28, 1949. Ernest and Doris (Morey) Wichert were her parents. She married Mitchel Jekel in Birch Run on March 9, 1968. On May 10 & 11th 1996, Arlene married Jerald Brown in Stanton. She was a cashier at Rueckerts Grocery, a Paraprofessional at Birch Run High School, and worked for 12 years at Bookwalter Motor Sales. Arlene enjoyed camping, concerts, flea markets, craft shows, vacationing in Canada, gardening, music, staying at her cabin, and her animals. She was a good decorator, painter, seamstress, hairdresser, artist, philosopher, and poet. She was funny, feisty, and full of life. Arlene loved her family, especially her grandchildren.
Arlene is survived by her husband, Jerry; children, Cari & Phil Riley of Kentwood, Kip (Lori Hiliker) Jekel of Illinois, Jerald & Alex Brown of Edmore, Sonja & Mike Rasmussen of McBride, Jamie & Jesse Brown of Six Lakes, Gina & Jeremiah Donaldson of Ohio; 13 Grandchildren; 2 Great Grandchildren; her Brothers, Robert Wichert, Richard Wichert, Dennis Berg, John Bentley, and Gerald Berg; Sisters, Bonnie Erforth, Connie McFatridge, Joyce Ann Matzke, and Sharon Polzin; Father and Mother in law, Eugene and Betty Brown; Brother & Sister in law, Don & Scherry Brown, and many nieces, nephews, special friends Shannon and Cheryl Rodriquez, and friends. Arlene is predeceased by her Parents; a Brother, Tom Wichert; and her StepDad, Melvin Berg.
Arlene's family will greet friends Sunday, November 17, 2013 from 1-5 p.m at the Barden Funeral Home, Stanton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Edmore at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 18th. Father Dominc Tirkey will officiate. Burial will be in Belvidere Twp. Cemetery.
For those desiring to do so, Memorial Contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, The Huntington's Chorea Association of Michigan, or The Hospice of Michigan.