Arlis Brown

George, IA Arlis Brown, age 63 of George, IA died Sunday, December 31, 2006, at the Northwest Iowa Health Center at Sheldon, IA. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 4, 2007 at the Tabernacle Baptist Church with Pastors Bryan Anderson & Matt Yaley, officiating. Burial will take place in Evergreen Lawn Cemetery at George prior to the memorial service. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-8 p.m. with the family present from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Roste Funeral Home of George. Arlis Ann Willemssen was born on July 23, 1943 at home on the farm to Ulfert and Mildred (Johnson) Willemssen. She attended country school near her home through the eighth grade. At age 16, she completed high school in George, graduating co-valedictorian in her class. She grew up attending the Evangelical United Brethren Church. She married Cecil (Moby) Merle Brown, Jr., in Sioux City, Iowa, on August 1, 1961. Their first daughter Robin Dawn was born on May 25, 1962, followed by Susan Melodie 13 months later on July 14, 1963. In 1964 Moby took Arlis and their baby girls back to his home in Paraguay, South America. There Arlis served the Lord in several capacities including translator, teacher, radio communication for missionaries, book keeper, wife and mother of two small mischievous girls. She earned her way into the hearts of the Lengua people who already accepted Mobyosa and the girls. It did not take long for the Indians to claim her as one of their own. Darla Joy joined the family on November 2, 1971. She added much to the Brown family on their last term in Paraguay. In 1976 the family returned to the States and made their home in George, Iowa. Arlis quickly became involved in speaking to ladies groups, teaching Sunday School, and sharing her spark of excitement for spreading the Gospel with the Arlis version of VBS. She soon became well know for her mesmerizing storytelling ability. She has captured the attention of many children as well as adults through the years. Teaching piano to as many as forty students at a time became a great love of hers. All of her students became her kids in her heart as she shared her love of piano as well as her love of the Lord. Arliss love for kids led to involvement in AWANA and youth programs at Tabernacle Baptist Church. She is most recently known as the candy lady at the sound booth at church. Arlis is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Moby; three daughters: Robin (husband Ward) Hamilton and their daughters, Angela (husband Erik) Aliff, Gloria, Jessica, and Vanessa of Independence, MO, Susan (husband Wally) Johnson and their children, Kit, Kari, and Amy, of Worthington, MN, Darla (husband Tim) Perry and their canine boys Buddy and Ringo of Sun Prairie, WI; one brother: Darwin (wife Lois) Willemssen of George, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents Ulfert and Mildred Willemssen.