Brown, Leila Neuenswander

Leila Neuenswander Brown, 95, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, July 10, 2010, at Northbrook Manor Care Center of Cedar Rapids.

Leila was the oldest of five children, born April 28, 1915, on a farm in Fayette, Iowa. Leila enrolled in nurses training at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, right out of high school. Her first job after receiving her RN degree was on staff at Finley Hospital in Dubuque.

Leila voluntarily joined the World War II effort as a Lieutenant JG in the U.S. Navy. Her first duty-station was Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Oakland, Calif., followed by Aiea Heights Naval Hospital, Honolulu, Hawaii, and later the Naval Air Station at Pearl Harbor. Leila was promoted to First Lieutenant and served close to the front lines in the Pacific Theatre assigned to the Marine medical group on the island of Guam. While in Guam she saw thousands of U.S. troops evacuated from battles on the islands of Mariana, Marshall and Soloman chains such as Tarawa Atolls, Gilbert Islands and Saipan.

After discharge from active duty in November 1945, Leila returned to Cedar Rapids, where she worked as an RN for Dr. Gertsman in Marion and Dr. Aschoff in Cedar Rapids.

In June 1962, Leila married Hollis Brown. In February 1975, she retired from nursing. During her retirement, Leila volunteered at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City and St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Leila was a member of Kenwood Park United Methodist Church and the New Encounters Widows Group.

Survivors include a brother, Noel (Marilyn) Neu of Moline, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Jeanne Neuenswander of Cedar Rapids; a stepdaughter, Diane (Dewayne) Spillers of Cheyenne, Wyo.; 13 nieces and nephews; and 34 great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Levi and Katie Neuenswander; husband, Hollis Brown; brother, L. J. Neuenswander; sister, Cleo Washburn; and brother, Gale Neuenswander.

Leila donated her body to the University of Iowa's Deeded Body Program for Medical Research. Private family services will be held at a later date.

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