Ruth A. Brown

Ruth A. Brown (nee: Smith) of West Allis, age 95, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2014 at Heritage at Deer Creek Assisted Living Center in New Berlin, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Ruth was preceded in death by her mother, Altha “Elsie” Smith (nee: Mathems) and father, Alexander Smith. She was also preceded in death by first husband, Willis Kirk, in 1945, a WW2 casualty. Ruth was also preceded in death by her 2nd husband, Richard “Dick” Brown, whom she was married to for 58 years. Ruth is survived by 4 children, Judy (Nick) Nicolai, Lynne Mundigler-Brown, Rick (Nancy) Brown, and Kevin (Patty) Brown. Ruth is further survived by 8 grandchildren, Jody (John) Hemauer, Laura (Dan) Hauenstein, Kelly (Kelly) O'Dea, Ryan (Lisa) Brown, Paige Patenaude, Meghan (Patrick) Cropp, Kyle Brown, and Sean Brown; 14 great-grandchildren, Hannah, Sofia, Gianna, Jacob, Jenna, Joey, Dylan, Logan, Aiden, Addy, Delaney, Camden, Cody, and Mikayla. Ruth was born in Milwaukee in 1919. She graduated from West Allis Central High School “Class of 1937”. Ruth worked at Kearney and Trecker machine tools, and Allis Chalmers/Supercharger machine parts during the war years, and later worked as an Avon lady in West Allis; food demonstrator; and Hostess at Sveden House Smorgasboard in West Allis. She was united in Marriage in 1939 to Willis Kirk, who died in WW2 combat in Italy in 1945. She was united in Marriage to Richard “Dick” Brown in 1947 and was married to Dick for 58 years until his death in 2005. The majority of Ruth's life was spent with husband Dick and family in West Allis, WI. After Dick retired from West Allis Police Department, he and Ruth moved to Wind Lake, WI, and spent winters in Brownsville, Texas. Ruth entered assisted living center Library Square in West Allis in 2006 where she lived   until 2011. Ruth then moved to Heritage at Deer Creek in New Berlin, where she lived the rest of her life. Ruth's family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the wonderful staff at Heritage at Deer Creek assisted living/memory care unit. The level of care and love she received from the compassionate staff was absolutely outstanding. Special thanks to Shelia for taking such an active role in "Grandma's" care. The family also would like to recognize Hometown Hospice Care and caregiver, Nicole, for their excellent assistance and care for Ruth and her family during Ruth's final months.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Apostles Catholic Church  (Moorland Rd. and National Avenue in New Berlin) on Friday, November 14, 2014 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be in Holy Apostles Church on Friday from 10:00 – 11:00 am. Interment will follow in Highland Memorial Park (Moorland Rd. and Greenfield Ave. in New Berlin). In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Wisconsin are encouraged.