Obituary of June Petersen-Brown

Marilyn June Petersen Brown, 84, passed away February 24, 2023. She was born June 3, 1938 in Gilcrest, CO to August and Leah (Weber) Maul. June attended Lincoln Elementary School, Meeker Junior High and graduated in 1956 from Greeley High School. While in Fort Collins, she attended many classes at Front Range Community College.

June worked for the city of Greeley, and in their own business in Fort Collins and several other businesses in Fort Collins. June retired from Greeley Senior Activity Center (Active Adult Center) in 2006. She mentioned that had she known how much she enjoyed working in recreation, she would have pursued that career much earlier in her life. After retirement June worked at DJ Flowers in Eaton for ten years.

June married James P. Petersen, from Harlan, IA, in 1959 and moved to Fort Collins in 1960. To this union she and Jim had two children, Bradley James, and Julie Lynne. She resided in Fort Collins until 1992 when she married Clarence E. Brown from Evans, CO and returned to Greeley. She always said the timing was right because her mother and step-father Henry Rusch required extra help.

Clarence and June enjoyed many trips with Don and Francie Brown. June enjoyed playing bridge, reading, quilting, knitting, watching the Broncos, fishing and spending the summer at their cabin in Gould. She belonged to a Tuesday afternoon bridge group, The Novel Club, and June was on the Cats of ’56 reunion committee since the 5^th reunion to the 65^th. During the election years she served as an election judge for Weld county and the Town of Eaton. After retiring she knitted more than 200 baby hats for the Montfort Birth Center and helped to make a few honor flight quilt tops. A special time was Christmas when they would decorate the house with lots of Santa’s and Mrs. Claus’, Dept. 56 North Pole Village and Snow Village plus several trees and her collection of the Simpich Christmas carolers. Their home was on the Eaton Christmas tour of homes in 2012. The tour raises funds to support the Eaton Historical Society and Museum. Her favorite time was reading to children during the Festival of Trees at UCCC and the Eaton High Plains Library as Mrs. Claus.

While working June served on several boards, The Fort Collins DDA, DBA, Poudre River Trust, GSAC Board, the Greeley/Weld Senior Foundation, Rocky Mountain Senior Games and the Fort Collins Hilltop and Parkridge HOA.

June is survived by her husband Clarence, children Brad, Julie Gilmore, Step-son Paul Brown, brother Ken (Jan) Maul, granddaughters Amber (Chas), Alexandra, grandson Aaron (Erika), six great grandchildren, Jaydin, Koby, Danika, Wyatt, Charlotte June, and Lyric Lee. Sister-in-laws Margaret Rusch, Cheryl (Gene) Hiatt and brother-in-law Melvin Geist. Her most precious is her grandson Jaydin who called her GG and who she loved to the moon and back. In September 2019, a great granddaughter was born and carries the name of Charlotte June. Most recently her newest grandchild was born by the name of Lyric Lee.

She is preceded in death by her parents, step-father, step-daughter Shelly Jo Brown, step-brother Hubert Rusch, step-sister Gladys Geist, brother and sister-in-law Don and Francie Brown and mother-in-law Leah Brown. She shared her love of animals with Ebony, Coconut, Tina, Charmin and Gigi.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Faith Lutheran Church on Friday March 10, 2023 at 10:00am with reception to follow at 11:00am

Family inurnment in the Columbarium will follow reception at Eaton Cemetery at 12:30pm

Memorial gifts may be made to the Charlotte June Erath 529 college fund.