Jeanne (Brandt) Brown

• 

Brown (Brandt), Jeanne Passed away peacefully after a short hospital stay at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek on July 11, 2018, after saying loving goodbyes to her beloved family. Her kindness, wisdom, inspiration, sense of humor and beauty will be missed beyond mere words. She could find goodness in anyone. All were welcome in her house and she loved to entertain friends and family both casually and formally. Throughout her life she was a living example of generosity, unconditional love, and respect for all. She loved to repeat the "golden rule," or "nobody's perfect," or "money can't buy you happiness" and "just do your best." When we all knew that her time was coming to an end, she bravely reminded us that even if you have all the money in the world that "nobody lives forever". She had a terrific sense of humor, and if she teased you it was probably because you were trying to act like a "big sh-ot." Her memory was astonishing and she never missed celebrating or sending a card for every birthday and major family milestone. Jeanne had an amazing amount of energy and kept herself busy. She hosted three different AFS foreign exchange students who she kept in touch with for over 40 years, and volunteered for most of her adult life, including many years at the Children's Hospital Bambino Thrift Store in Oakland and Head Start. After she moved to Rossmoor, she was active in the doll clubs, square dancing and Daughters of Norway. She was a lifelong constant reader of both fiction and non-fiction who was always either giving books away or offering recommendations for books to read. She loved to travel to many places with Arnie and family, and some of her favorite places were Lake Tahoe, the Big Island Hawaii, and Edgewood Resort in Park Rapids, MN. Jeanne was born on May 9th, 1934 in Minneapolis, MN to Borghild Syverson Brandt and Edward Brandt. Jeanne is survived by her loving husband since December 7th, 1952, Arnold "Arnie" Brown, Jr.; and sons, Steven [Michele Pla], Michael [Sue Brown] and Tim [Linda Brown]; twin sister, Joanne Brandt Kelly [Pasadena, CA] and younger brother Jack Brandt [New Castle, IN], and was preceded in death by her older sister, Betty Brandt; and younger brother, Jim Brandt. She was incredibly proud of both being a twin from the Twin Cities, and having younger twin brothers. Grandma Jeanne both loved and was adored by her numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and grandchildren, Kathryn Brown, Tyler Brown [Erin], Jennifer Brown Sigrist [Rob], Robert Brown, David Brown, Blair Brown and Jason Brown; and great-grandchildren, Emily Brown, Samantha Sigrist, Madalyn Sigrist, and Hunter Sigrist. Her early childhood was full of memories of living in Minneapolis with her beloved siblings, and summer visits to see her cousins at the Syverson family dairy farm near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After their mother passed away, she and Joanne moved to San Diego to live with their aunt Ellida and uncle Rear Admiral Frank Monroe at the Naval Training base where they finished high school. Jeanne met her future husband, Arnie Brown, at a young officer's dance on the Naval Training Base. They fell in love and married soon thereafter. They started a family and lived in several California cities with major stops in Stanford [where Arnie attended Stanford Business School], Cupertino, Walnut Creek, Oakland, and back to Walnut Creek. She and Arnie were married for 65 years and for the last several years she and Arnie lived happily in Rossmoor, CA. She requested no service, and to please send any gifts to either the Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland, CA, or to the Children's Hospital Bambino Thrift Shop in Oakland, CA.

Published on July 18, 2018