Loretta M. Brown, age 101, passed away on Friday, August 16, 2019.

Loretta, the seventh child of Chris and Hilma Thompson, was born on October 20, 1917 on the family farm five miles south of Grantsburg.  She attended the one-room Grettum Grade School, Grantsburg High School (Class of 1935), and Superior State Teachers College where she earned a Bachelor of Education degree.  She taught seventh and eighth grades in Eagle River, Wisconsin Dells, and Monroe, Wisconsin.

On June 28, 1944, on her oldest sister’s 25th wedding anniversary, Loretta married Melville Brown.  Their son, Thomas was born in August 1945, and they returned to Grantsburg shortly after that.

Beginning in 1950, Loretta taught seventh and eighth graders in Grantsburg for one year.  She then became the financial secretary of Grantsburg Integrated Schools, a position she held for 32 years.

For her entire life, Loretta was active in her church and community.  She always said she didn’t want all of her activities listed because her family and friends knew the things she had done.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Clarence, Eugene, and Ted; sisters, Ella, Lillian and Alyce, and her husband, Mel.

She is survived by her son, Thomas (Janet) Brown, grandsons, James and Mark Brown, step grandson, Aaron Howell; great grandchildren Leland and Jaylynn Brown; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Cathy McCabe (guardian) and Joan Johnson; along with many friends, colleagues and students.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 3:00 PM (visitation 2:30-3:00 PM) at Faith Lutheran Church in Grantsburg with Pastor Jay Ticknor officiating.  Internment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Grantsburg. Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Grantsburg.

Last Update: Aug 18, 2019 8:53 pm CDT