Alice Muriel Brown (nee Nelson) passed away on September 11, 2017 at the age of 90.  Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Willard E. Brown. Alice was born on October 20, 1926 in Faithorn, Michigan to Donald E. and Margaret L. (nee Kelly) Nelson, the second oldest of 10 children.  Sisters Katherine Gulash and Mavis Powell, brothers Merlin, Donald, and Irving Nelson, and great grandson Aidan Johnson also preceded Alice in death.  

Alice is survived by her three children, Thomas E. (MaryPat) Brown, Patricia B. (John) Richards, and Peggy M. (Jon) Fong.  Her eleven grandchildren Kelly (Paul) Watzka, Thomas (Maria) Brown, Katie (Dennis) Konieczny, Simone and Amanda Bruhy, Nicholas, Willa and Emma Richards, Caitlin, Kendal and Jordan Fong were the joy of her life as were her ten great grandchildren, Jonathan, Benjamin, Audrey, Annabel, Matthew, Connor, Liam, Chloe, Emmet, and Langston. Further lovingly survived by  her sisters Carol Trautner, Norma Scolatti and Patricia (Dein) Nolf and brother Allen (Mary) Nelson.

Alice taught for many years for the Elmbrook School district first as a 1st grade teacher and then as a special education teacher. She is fondly remembered by many of her students as well as the children she tutored. The value Alice placed on education was a guiding principle in her life and she worked hard to instill a love of education in everyone she encountered. At her retirement party, the parent of a former student wrote, “Mrs. Brown inspires children to believe in themselves and to persist toward excellence.” 

Visitation will be held at the Funeral Home on Thursday, September 14, from 5 until 7 pm.  A Sharing of Memories will occur at St. John Vianney Church (1755 N Calhoun Rd.) on Friday, September 15 at 10:45 am to be followed immediately by a Mass of Christian Burial . Interment will be held at Iron Mountain Cemetery Park, Iron Mountain, MI.

 In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Alice’s memory to the Donald and Margaret Nelson Scholarship Fund (C/O the Dickinson Area County Community Foundation) would be appreciated.

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