Brown, Loretta B.

Loretta B. Brown, 99, of Edgewood, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at the Edgewood Convalescent Home. Mass of Resurrection: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26, at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Edgewood, by the Rev. Stephen Lundgren. Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Edgewood and after 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment: St. Mark's Catholic Cemetery, Edgewood.

Loretta was born Oct. 30, 1911, in Worthington, Iowa, the daughter of Jacob and Josephine (Besler) Merfeld. She was raised in the area and educated at Worthington rural school. On Nov. 19, 1935, Loretta was united in marriage to Earl J. Brown in Cascade. Together they farmed in Dubuque County until 1946, when they moved to farm in Delaware County and, in 1955, moved to farm west of Edgewood. Loretta and Earl moved to Edgewood in 1969 and Earl died in 1971. Lorretta lived in the Yankee Settlement until July 2007, when she entered the Edgewood Convalescent Home.

Lorretta was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church. She enjoyed her family, cards, horse racing, dancing, and quilting. Loretta was proud that all of her sons and sons-in-law served in the military.

Survivors include her seven children, Ralph (Mary) Brown of Edgewood, Marie Hood of Manchester, Pat (David) Rohner of Garnavillo, Bob (Mary Lou) Brown of Manchester, Wally (Kathryn) Brown of Edgewood, Ron (Freida) Brown of Edgewood and Tom (Karyl) Brown of Jesup; 25 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren;  one brother, Albert (Wilma) Merfeld of Monticello; and one sister, Dolly Janssen of Monticello.

Loretta was preceded in death by her husband, Earl J. Brown; her parents; six siblings, Nick Merfeld, Lester Merfeld, Ray Merfeld, Henry Merfeld, Marie Miller and an infant sister; two grandsons, Larry Brown and Joseph Kintzle; one great-grandson, Kollin Kerhli; a son-in-law, Glenn Hood; and a grandson-in-law, Gary Sommers.

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