Gerdena Marie (De Hoedt) Brown, 85, died Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, surrounded by the love of her family at her home in Kellogg. Gerdena’s funeral service was at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the Newton Church of The Way. Burial was at Our Silent City Cemetery in Kellogg. Memorials have been designated to Kellogg Township Fire and Ambulance.
The daughter of Garrett and Mattie (Van Wyk) De Hoedt, she was born Aug. 10, 1936, in Kellogg. She graduated from Sully High School. Feb. 28, 1957, Gerdena was united in marriage with Merl Brown in Sully. They were blessed with four children: Mike, Rick, Cindy, and David. She was a sales clerk at J. C. Penney in Newton for 29 years, retiring in 1999.
Gerdena enjoyed quilting, cooking, gardening her flowers, and going to the races. She went with Merl to the Daytona 500 for 53 years in a row.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers Gerald, Clarence, and Rich De Hoedt; and one sister Jacoba Walker.
Those left to cherish Gerdena’s memory are her husband of 64 years, Merl; children, Mike (Aileen) Brown of Kellogg, Rick (Mary) Brown of Kellogg, Cindy (Mike) Meredith of Kellogg, and David (Kathy) Brown of Kellogg; her nine grandchildren, Melanie (Tim) Sweeney, Justin (Veronica) Brown, Kristin (Trevor) Titus, Kelli (Racer) Hulin, Kayla (Josh) Illingworth, Justina (Calvin) Dhondt, Josh (Paige) Meredith, Kyle (Maggie) Brown, and Kaitlyn (Erik) Lepley; 18 great-grandchildren; her sister Irene (Wilford) Roose of Pella; and her sister-in-law Lucy De Hoedt of Simpsonville, SC.
