Bernice M. Brown (Granny Brown or just Granny to most), age 100, passed away peacefully with family present on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 at Friendly Village.
Bernice was born on June 23, 1922, in Marshfield, to Emil and Tressa (Eckes) Prust. She was united in marriage to Forrest A. Brown of Marshfield on Nov. 30, 1940. They were married for nearly 80 years.
The couple lived in Marshfield for several years where Bernice was a home mom, they had three children there.
The family moved to Rhinelander in 1949 where they bought a home on Melody Lane, just two blocks off Lake Julia, in a small subdivision That is where Bernice's claim-to-fame began with her anise suckers at Halloween for all the kids (and adults) of the neighborhood. In 1968, they bought property on the north shore of Lake Julia and built a home where Forrest and Bernice would live until 2019.
Bernice was very active in the Saint Mary's Altar Society. She was also an Avon representative. In her later years, she worked at Specialty Sales. Bernice's favorite times of the year were Christmas, because she loved to decorate and would fill the living room half full of presents for all the grandkids, and Halloween because of her anise suckers of which she made several hundred.
Bernice and Forrest were blessed with seven children. She is survived by six children: Sheri (Don) Williams of Shennington, Wis.; Doug Brown (Jackie Waldorf) of Rhinelander, Steve Brown of Shennington, Wendy Fletcher of Rhinelander, Russ (Lori) Brown of Rhinelander, and Mike (Julie) Brown of Harshaw. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Bernice has one surviving sister, Gerri Lazar of Hawkins, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest; her parents, one daughter, Marla Jean Brown, and her brothers and sisters except for Gerri.
At Bernice's request, there will be no visitation or service. A Celebration of Life is planned for next summer at Lake Julia. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Bernice was a blessing to all who knew her and such a beautiful lady. She was so proud of her family and I loved her smile!
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