Joan C. Brown, 83, of Summersville, WV passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2016 in the Summersville Regional Medical Center. Born July 8, 1933 in Dell Rapids, SD; she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna Kottman Schwebach. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ronald J. Brown in 2006; two brothers, Joseph Schwebach and Urban Schwebach; two sisters, Isabelle Schmidt and Cordula Williamson.
Joan attended all twelve years of schooling and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Dell Rapids. She went on to Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD, to earn her teaching certificate. She also attended Dakota State teacher’s college. She was the first lay teacher at St. Mary’s Elementary Catholic School in Dell Rapids, SD. She also taught in Parker and Rapid City, SD, and a private school in Manhattan, NYC.
She married Ronald J. Brown on December 26, 1959. They had four children, Ann Christiansen (Tim) of Austin, TX, Paul Brown (Mary), Patrick Brown, and Alice Hamilton (CJ), all of Summersville; grandchildren, Melissa (David) Augustine, Kelly (Matt Schmidt), Andrew, Nichole, Christy, Anna and Jacob Hamilton, Rachel, John Paul, Luke and Mary Angela Brown and six great grandchildren; Matthew Christiansen, Brianna, Samantha, Catherine and Nicholas Augustine and Adeline Schmidt; two great-great grandchildren, Zayden and Aleah Augustine; three sisters, Mary Ann (Alfred) Loiseau of Egan, SD, Helen (Mike) Hattervig of Dell Rapids, SD and Clare (Conrad) Hubert of Babylon, NY.
Joan’s life was her family. Whatever her children were involved in she was there. She was a Girl and Boy Scout leader as well as fundraising chairman, a room mother for many years, active PTA member, as well as being a CCD and RCIA Teacher for her church. She loved her Catholic faith and participated in every aspect that she could by volunteering as a member of altar society or ladies group as well as a religious education teacher.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at the St. John’s Catholic Church at Summersville with interment in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery at Summersville. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joan’s memory may be made to Catholic Radio c/o St. Johns Church, Summersville, WV. On-line condolences may be left at the White Funeral Home website.