- Date Of Birth: February 27, 1933
- Date Of Death: August 5, 2021
- State: Iowa
Joanne H. Brown died at home on August 5, 2021, in the loving presence of family. Born in Des Moines February 27, 1933 to Sam and Molly Hockenberg, she earned a degree in theatre from Northwestern University. Married to Milt Brown in 1955, she lived in Germany and Iowa City as Milt served as an army officer and finished law school. Returning to Des Moines, Joanne continued her education while raising children Linda, Jay, and Bennett. She earned a masters degree in English from Drake University (1969) and taught writing and theatre at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
Joanne volunteered as a children’s theatre teacher, Des Moines Community Playhouse board member, adult literacy mentor, and facilitator of book groups at Temple B’nai Jeshuran and among neighbors. She had lead roles in Playhouse productions such as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and opposite her husband in the comedy 6 Rms Riv Vu.
Joanne later became a dean at DMACC and earned a doctorate at Drake (1980), where she became a tenured professor in the English department. She taught business writing and as a scholar authored four academic books about young adolescent literature and themes of feminism, immigration, and coming of age.
Joanne and Milt celebrated years worth of occasions with family and friends, hosting small dinner parties and large gatherings, Joanne ever-ready to compose funny poems to honor someone she loved. The couple found much joy in a summer home in Okoboji, Iowa with their three children’s families and communities of friends. They traveled widely in Europe and Latin America, making lasting friendships in tour groups, traveling with another couple, and building memories with children and grandchildren.
In her retirement, Joanne painted, continued in theatre as part of a Des Moines group reviving radio theatre, and instructed Ray Society courses for Drake alumni. Her final stage appearance was at age 84 in Marjorie Prime as Marjorie, a woman facing the challenges of dementia. Joanne spent her final three years in Iowa City to be near toddler grandchild JJ. She faced challenges from Alzheimer’s with strength and positivity, grateful for the support of a loving community of professional caretakers.
She is survived by children Linda (Julia) Weber, Jay (Lori) Brown, and Bennett (Maurine) Brown and grandchildren Michael (Melissa) and Sam (Morgan) Weber; Jake (Tessa), Greer (Logan), and Lily (Jack) Brown; and Alexei Hockenberg, great granddaughter Maisie Weber, and sister Marilyn Smith Layton. Joanne was preceded in death by her husband Milt Brown in 2011.
Joanne was known for her loyalty, independence, and generosity, and will be remembered with love and gratitude by friends and family alike. Donations in Joanne’s memory may be made to Temple B’nai Jeshurun or to Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa.
