Gwendolen (Gwen) Zeitler Brown, 86 years, of Fort Madison, Iowa, died Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Birkwood Village Facility in Fort Madison, Iowa. She was born July 30, 1936, in Albany, New York, the daughter of William Irving and Blodwen Mary (Williams) Zeitler. Gwen had a special gift in her ability to connect with people, she was a friend to anyone she met, and if you sat next to her on an airplane, she likely knew your life story before the plane landed. She will be remembered by many for her kindness and her sweet smile.
Gwen was raised in Albany, NY and Fort Madison, IA. She graduated from Fort Madison High School in 1954 and attended the University of Iowa receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in General Science in 1958 and a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance in 1961. During college she spent two summers working in the hills of Puerto Rico with the Presbyterian mission program. Gwen taught middle school general science in Schenectady, NY, and after obtaining her master’s became a high school counselor at Faribault High School in MN. She also was a college counselor at the University of Denver where she pursued a doctorate.
On August 26, 1967, she married Lyle Brown at Union Presbyterian Church, Fort Madison, Iowa. After the birth of Megan, her first child, she and Lyle moved to Newberry, SC, later settling in Columbia, SC, which they would call home for 30 years and where their second child, Matthew, was born. She was an exceptional mother, raising Megan and Matthew, while doing large amounts of volunteer work and caring for her parents and Lyle’s mother. There was also present a beloved cat and dog in the house that were faithful companions to Gwen. In 2001, Gwen, Lyle, and the pets retired back to her hometown where she became very involved in supporting the Fort Madison, IA community.
She loved singing choral music and participated regularly with several choirs throughout her life. She started singing as a child in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany, NY. In South Carolina she was a long time alto in the Columbia Choral Society, even performing at Spoleto in Charleston, as well as the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church choir. She would join the community choir in Fort Madison as often as she could, and her voice always rang out clear at the services at St. Luke’s as she helped lead the congregation through their Sunday hymns.
Gwen was a lifetime member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and a strong supporter of women’s equal rights and education. Other memberships include the Monday Afternoon Study Club of which her grandmother, Dinah Williams, was a founding member and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, North Lee County Historical Society, and the University of Iowa Alumni Association. She served on the Fort Madison Historic Preservation Commission for ten years, and with her husband was co-chair of the project that led to the establishment of the Park-to-Park Historic District being listed in the National Register of Historic Places. She took on the rescue of two condemned Fort Madison Main Street buildings, and with Lyle’s help cleaned them up and brought them back into service for two businesses and upstairs housing. Her commitment to the community was also shown in her support for the rehabilitation of Central Park and the band concerts, a site she was fond of located across from the house her grandparents owned and that she grew up in when in Fort Madison.
She had a passion for counseling young people, especially young women, and helping them seek out education. In SC, Gwen established a scholarship fund in her mother’s name with the American Association of University Women (AAUW). In Iowa, she supported the efforts of Upward Bound for the young members of St. Luke’s where she and Lyle attended. She was very proud to establish the Gwen & Lyle Brown Scholarship at the University of Iowa, which supports selected freshman from Fort Madison and Clinton High Schools that are attending the University. To date, over 50 young people have received a scholarship, and Gwen continued to support several of them throughout their careers after graduation.
Travel was always a sought-out adventure for Gwen, and she and Lyle ensured that their family took several trips to Europe to see the history and culture as well as spending time researching and meeting an extensive group of relatives in Wales and England. In retirement she loved to travel with Lyle, and they enjoyed many memorable vacations in Europe, China, Thailand, Alaska, and Russia as well as the US. One of her favorite trips was on the American Queen up the Mighty Mississippi, a river that she was so fond of. Gwen also enjoyed the view of that river from their Fort Madison home and was regularly noting what barges, trains, birds, deer, and rabbits were passing by, as well as hosting friends for the fireworks on the 4th of July.
Gwen is survived by her husband, Lyle, and what she felt was her greatest achievement, her children that she was very proud of: her “career gal” daughter Megan Brown in Alexandria, VA, and “great dad” son Matthew Brown (Abby his wife) in Apex, NC. She was also a devoted grandmother to Gavin and Caroline Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. Burial will be held at a later date at Elmwood Cemetery in Fort Madison. A memorial service for family and friends will be held at a later date at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Memorials in Gwen’s honor may be made to the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, 1 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242 for the Gwen & Lyle Brown Scholarship Fund, or to PAW Animal Shelter, 2031--48th Street, Fort Madison, IA 52627. Online condolences to the Brown family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
