Donna Ione (Wehrman) Brown

Donna Ione Brown, 86, of Iowa Falls, passed away Sunday, March 10, 2024 at her home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church 415 Main Street, Iowa Falls on Tuesday, March 19 at 10:00 a.m.  The Linn’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements and will hold a visitation the evening before the service, Monday March 18, 2024  from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m at Linn’s Funeral Home 1521 Washington Avenue, Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126.  Further information can be found at linns funeralhome.com.  Memorial gifts will go to the Barnabas House, a ministry of St. Mark, Bethany Lutheran, and First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls.  Barnabas House serves families in need of shelter and assistance. These may be directed to Donna Brown Memorial, c/o Linn’s Funeral Home, 1521 Washington Ave, Iowa Falls, IA  50126.

Donna Ione Brown was born in rural Nuckolls County, Nebraska on November 13, 1937 to Joseph Albert Wehrman and Beryl Adeline Hickstein Wehrman, the fourth of five children.  Later, the family moved to Meridian, Idaho.  Donna graduated from Meridian High School in 1955.  Donna met John Thomas Brown, who was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base at a rollerskating rink in Nampa, Idaho. They were married on September 21, 1955 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Meridian, Idaho.  They moved to Iowa Falls where John had a job with Iowa Electric Light and Power (now Alliant) at the power plant. Donna began working at Rite Drug.

Four children were born to this union, Steven Michael, Randall Kenneth, Lawrence Dean and Sharon Diane, all graduates of Iowa Falls High School. John and Donna purchased an acreage at the edge of the Iowa River Greenbelt and they built a house.  Donna was right alongside John, working together as it was built.  On weekends the large front yard would be filled with baseball, football, or basketball games with the neighborhood kids.  John and Donna did everything together.  They took up golf together with their first course being the five-hole course they created on their own acreage. John and Donna were good to the point they became very happy about their third-place trophy from the city of Iowa Falls husband and wife City Championship in 1972. They spent 1975 and 1976 going to all of Randy’s football games and track meets and enjoyed it very much.  She was very proud when Steve and Larry received Presidential Scholarships to Briar Cliff College.  Donna was an excellent rollerskater.  For many years, she and John coached competitive dance skaters while Shari participated in competitive skating throughout the Midwest. Donna also typed cookbooks for General Publishing and Binding for many years to support Shari’s skating.

Donna was an active member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church.  She taught Catechism, and led many RENEW study groups, inspiring many parishioners to grow closer to Jesus Christ.  Together, John and Donna were communion ministers, ushers, and greeters. Donna was the first to stand alongside John to sell Knights of Columbus tootsie rolls.  After that, other wives helped too.  

The last several years, living in town, she has enjoyed the friendship of her “coffee group”, next door neighbors and church members, who she cherished like family.

Donna (our Mom) was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  Her faith in God was strong and unquestioning.  She lived for her family, and that was enough.  She loved and lived for the good of others. 

Donna is survived by her children, Steve (Cindy) Brown of Pecan Grove, Texas, Randy Brown of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Larry (Theresa) Brown of Knoxville, Iowa, and Shari (Alan) Keninger of Iowa Falls; nine grandchildren, Kathleen, Samantha and Michelle Brown of Colorado Springs, Sarah (Robert) Battles of Sioux City, Adam (Jayme) Brown of Des Moines, Matthew and Rebekah Brown of Knoxville, Alyssa Keninger (Friend, Cody Schultz) of Arlington, Virginia, and Dustin (Brianna) Keninger of Leland, Iowa, and four great-grandchildren, Jazlynn Brown, Jack Keninger, Atlas Brown, and Colt Keninger.  She is also survived by her brother Paul (Deanna) Wehrman, and sisters-in-law, Mary Rose Brown of Iowa Falls, and Donna Wehrman.

She was preceded in death by her parents and John, her husband of 64 years. Also, sisters Elaine Stines, June Henry and brother Harold Wehrman, brothers-in-law Bert Brown, Joe Henry, and Lonnie Stines. Sisters-in-law Kathryn Heenan, Eloise Johnson, Geneva Donnely Watkins, and Juanita Roff.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.