Obituary: Virginia Lee Brown

Virginia Lee Brown, age 89, of died Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at her home in Castalia, Iowa.

She was born April 3, 1937 in Ashmore, Illinois, one of nine children to Allen and Beatrice (Shoot) Richey.

In 1955 she graduated from High School in Charleston, Illinois. One day while working at a cafe in Ashmore she waited on Chuck Brown who was working in the area for a tree service from Monona, Iowa. They were married January 7, 1956 and moved to Iowa. They settled in Castalia in 1964 where she lived the rest of her life. Living on the main street she had the best seat in town watching all the local action from her favorite chair. She wasn’t much of a TV watcher but she enjoyed the RFD channel especially Molly B. and Country Music. Other activities she enjoyed were gardening, golf cart rides and mowing her own yard.

Virginia was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia. The church was important to her both spiritually and socially. She loved her church family.

As a widow in her 30’s with four young children she worked hard all her life. She worked at

Schopp’s/Castalia Locker for 24 years, Postville School Lunchroom, helped at First Chance Saloon in Castalia when her son Gary owned it right across the street from her house. She was the first manager at Silver Springs Golf Club in Ossian, from there she went to Bambino’s waiting tables. She was never one to sit still very long. She took great pride being the Grand Marshal for Castalia Tractor Days and Queen for the Day at Revival Days at the Castalia Park.

Most of all she cherished family. She would turn on the porch light for her kids to come home from playing with the neighborhood kids. There were so many great neighbors in Castalia through the years. She wore many hats — Mom, Daughter, Grandma, Sister, Ma Brown, Aunt Ginny, Grandma Great, Aunt Virginia and Friend.Virginia is survived by her sons, Jerry William Brown of Castalia, Gary Glen Brown of Ossian, her daughter, Sherry Lee (Jim) Whitehead of Hudson, Iowa; grandchildren, Amber Zirbel, Brandon (Jennifer Moose) Brown, Drew (Laura) Whitehead, Taneasha (Brian Ingles) Brown, and Kaden Brown; great grandchildren, Riley, Easton, Jocelyn, Gemma, Landon, Kendyl, Alexis and Emzly and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles (Chuck) William Brown in 1971; her son, Charles (Charlie) Terry Brown in 2006; granddaughter, Heather Brown; parents; brothers and sisters, Dale (Wilma) (Nellie) Richey, Ethel (Ray) Woodyard, Irene (Willis) Woodyard, Erlene (Tom) Shaffer, Lois (Paul) Coon, Glen “Bud” (Orpha) Richey, Carolyn (Jim) Johnson, Rex (Sandy) Richey; two nieces; five nephews, and special friends, Jim Chambers and Cindy Thompson.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm with a visitation from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia, Iowa with Rev. Daryl Schultz as the officiant. The Funeral Service will be livestreamed on Zion Lutheran Church facebook page. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Castalia, Iowa.

Lunch to follow at Castalia Fire Station.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville, Iowa is helping the family with arrangements.