Mary “Jane” (nee Coldren) Clark, 84, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, in Beloit, Wis. She passed on the birthday of her much-loved father, Ashley Vernon Coldren, who would have been 116 years of age at this point in time.
Jane was born in Norwalk to Ashley and Julia (Berendes) Coldren on April 23, 1930. The first of 11 children, Jane, at the age of 21, became mother as well as beloved sister to her siblings upon the untimely death of their mother at the age of 43. Their love and affection for one another was a source of great joy and deep friendship.
She went to high school in Kendall and graduated in 1949. Jane enjoyed the many reunions she returned to over the years and cherished these early friendships.
On July 14, 1953, Jane was united in marriage to James R. “Bill” Brown, “the love of her life”; to them, three daughters were born. Jane and Bill created a happy home where they lovingly raised their family at the house on McKinley, where she went on to live for 50 years. Their home was known to many, and folks who stopped by could rely on an ever-ready homemade meal or a piece of pie before a walk among the many flowerbeds and a stroll out to the garden.
She was a lifelong parishioner of St. Jude Catholic Church, where she acted as a Eucharistic Minister, distributing communion to the parish’s sick and homebound, and was a member of the Marian Guild C.C.W. She was involved with the Women’s Auxiliary of VFW Mead-Allen Post 2306 and a member of the Beloit Eagles Club.
Her holiday cookie deliveries were gleefully anticipated by many lucky recipients, including her church’s homebound parishioners. She taught most of us how to play cards and cribbage – well. She loved the Packers and would cite statistics with the best of them. She may enjoy a drink on game day, but never more than her prescriptive “half a glass.” She was the keeper of important family dates, always remembering to send a card on a special day. She was prayerful and grateful and cheerful every day of her life. Her family cannot remember a time when she said an unkind word about anyone.
Jane had a servant’s heart, which was reflected in the abundant love she had for her family and friends. Her greatest joy and fulfillment was found during time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jane is survived by her daughters Rebecca (Cal) Bennington of Livermore, Calif., and, Shelley (Chris Birkey) Cousin of Beloit; a son-in-law Gary (Aleda Lucas) Zimmerman of Beloit; two former sons-in-law, Ron Zimmerman of Beloit and Robert (Rhonda) Cousin of Milton, Wis.; her grandchildren Melissa (Joel) Sampson of Janesville, Chris (Courtney Campbell-) Zimmerman of Beloit, Miranda (Chris) Kindschi of Beloit, Levi (Erika Rogers) Cousin of Beloit, Jane (Ryan) Roberts of Beloit, Anna Cousin of Beloit, Kaylee Zimmerman of Stowe, VT, Ben Huff of Beloit, and Alex Huff of Beloit; her great-grandchildren, Cruz, Jada, Journey, Desmyn, Lilliana, Skye, Ryan, Trey, Takoda, Ryder and Dean; her sisters, Kate (Thomas “Bud”) Finucan of Janesville, Eva (Larry) McCracken of Poynette, Wis., Joyce Tessmer of Janesville, Alice (Jim) Model of Stoughton, Wis., and, Irene “Sally” Haffner of Lancaster, Penn.; a brother, Bill “Josh” (Judy) Coldren of Pinellas Park, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Patrick Kennedy of McFarland, Wis.; two sisters-in-law, Annette Coldren of Sturtevant, Wis., Deb Coldren of Wilton; her much-loved nieces and nephews; her dear first cousin, Dorothy Warriner of Beloit; her lifelong friends, Matt and Marion Steidl of Tomah; and her good friend and favorite dance partner, Bernie Novy of Beloit.
In addition to her parents, Jane was preceded in her death by her beloved husband of 35 years, Jim “Bill” Brown; her oldest daughter, Deb (Gary) Zimmerman; her mother-in-law, Lillian Mae Walker Brown of Lenoir City, Tenn., who became “like a mother” to her; her sisters, Bette Coldren of Madison and Emmy (Patrick) Kennedy of McFarland, Wis.; her brothers, Duane “Butch” (Deb) Coldren of Wilton and Fred (Annette) Coldren of Pinellas Park, Fla.; her sisters-in-law, Edna (Duane “Butch”) Coldren of Wilton, Mildred (Reeford) McConkey of Lenoir City, Tenn., Margaret “Margie” (Brown) Reed of Waynesville, N.C., Nona (Herbert Brown) Thiede of Beloit, Joyce (Bud) Brown of Lenoir City, Tenn., and Francis “Fran” (Torfin “Rusty”) Clark-Rustad of Beloit; her brothers-in-law, Reeford (Mildred) McConkey of Lenoir City, Tenn., James “Jimmy” (Margie) Reed of Waynesville, N.C., Herbert Brown of Lenoir City, Tenn., George “Bud” (Joyce) Brown of Lenoir City, Tenn., Gary (Sally) Haffner of Lancaster, Penn., and Elmer (Joyce) Tessmer of Janesville; her niece, Sacia Joy Haffner; a lifelong friend, Rose Marx of Clinton; her much-loved “auntie,” Agnes Flock of Tomah; her husband of one year, Leonard Rochester; and her husband of 13 years, Fay Clark.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, Oct. 1, at St. Jude Catholic Parish in Beloit, beginning with a visitation at 10 a.m. and followed by the celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with Fr. John Hedrick and Fr. Bill O’Connell officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawn Cemetery in South Beloit, Ill. Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Road, Beloit, assisted the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Beloit Regional Hospice (www.beloitregionalhospice.com) and/or the Alzheimer’s Association of South Central Wisconsin (www.alz.org/scwisc/donate).
Condolences may be left in Jane’s online guestbook at www.daleymurphywisch.com.
We will always remember the sensitive in-home care provided to Jane by the loving hands of Sally Carson and Freda Goeff – thank you. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Sun Valley Terrace for the care and love shown to Jane. And, it’s impossible to adequately thank the staff of Beloit Regional Hospice for their steadfast compassionate care. You are such special people, and we are so very grateful for the grace with which you held vigil with us.
