Cheryl J. Brown

Cheryl Joneen (Cordes) Brown passed peacefully surrounded by loving family members on January 27, 2025 at The Brant at Gretna Senior Living. She was only a few days short of her 83th birthday and attained the age of 82 yrs, 11 months, 8 days at the time of her passing. 

Cheryl was born in Carroll, IA at St. Anthony’s Hospital to Henry and Lorene (Hager) Cordes in 1942. Cheryl was the youngest of 3 girls and was given the nickname ‘the babe’ accordingly. The family moved from a farm located in Audubon County (Exira, IA) to another farm located West of Walnut. Cheryl attended Walnut High School and played on the girls basketball team that went to the State Tournament in 1957. Following graduation, Cheryl moved to Omaha to attend Mercy Nursing School and played basketball for the school. Her nursing career began with UNMC and then at a private doctors office in Omaha. In 1964, she married Doug Brown and to this union a daughter, Julie, in 1967 and son, Richard, in 1969 completed their family. In October of 1970, they followed their calling to move to a rural setting and bought a farm West of Avoca. They set out farming crops, raising livestock and instilling their hard working values in their children. Cheryl loved farm life and embraced all the challenges and beauty that came with it. Her medical training transferred to treating livestock and the many animals that held refuge at the family farm. She was a farm wife that was mostly outside tending to the many daily chores which came with early mornings and weekend work. It was here her love for all animals was nurtured. 

Cheryl returned to her nursing profession in the late 70’s and worked at Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, IA for over 30 years. In addition to nursing and farming, Cheryl also supported her husband’s various entrepreneurial business ventures in a complete partnership during this time and continued this support beyond her nursing career retirement. 

Cheryl really enjoyed living in her small town community and cherished the longstanding friendships she had from this community. She especially loved Christmas and worked tirelessly to make the holiday family gatherings on the farm extra special. Her faith was very important to her as an active member of St Mary's Catholic Church in Avoca. She continued to attend Mercy Nursing School reunions as her nurse friends and affiliation was significant to her.

When she and Doug finally decided to take some time from working, they enjoyed traveling to see their children and grandchildren and attending their many sports, theatre and church events. They assembled family for trips to Florida, Colorado, Canada and Alaska where many wonderful memories were created. 

Cheryl was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend. She was fun loving, faith-filled and family oriented, all of which fueled her very being. She will be missed dearly and forever loved. 

Cheryl is survived by her husband, Doug Brown of Avoca, IA, daughter Julie (Shannon) Brown-Crist of Parker, CO, son Richard Brown of Gretna, NE, grandchildren Cameryn & Kathryn Crist of Parker, CO, Emily (Jon) Murray of Omaha, NE, Abby (Adam) Warne of Omaha, NE, Lily Brown of Gretna, NE, Michael Brown of Gretna, NE, great grandchild, Sebastian Warne and sister, Carmen (Wayne) Craney of Oklahoma City, OK and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents Henry and Lorene Cordes, sister Rhonda Cordes and cousins; Wayne Cordes, Byron (Butch) Cordes and Jan Mees. 

There will be a Rosary at 11 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church 109 N Maple Street  Avoca, IA 51521 on Friday, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­February 7. A reception will be held at the Avoca CountryView Golf Club and Grille from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. following the internment at Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, IA.    Flowers can be ordered at the Flower Shop in Avoca, IA. 712-307-6100