Obit: Brouwer, John Edwin (1934 - 2017)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Brouwer, Brands, Schmidt, Gunvalson, Cash

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/12/2017

Brouwer, John Edwin (7 September 1934 – 3 April 2017)

John Edwin Brouwer, 82, died Monday April 3, 2017, at Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN, due to complications related to burn injuries.

John was born in Inwood, IA, Sept. 7, 1934, the son of Jorienus and Artie (Brands) Brouwer. In 1946, he moved to Edgerton, MN, with his family. John married the sweetest girl in town, Florence Schmidt, June 6, 1958. He graduated from Western Theological Seminary in 1962. He was a pastor in Dell Rapids, SD, Corsica, SD, Randolph, Altoona/Hallie and Neillsville/Granton. From there, he and Florence retired to their hobby farm near Osseo. In retirement, up until his death, he pastored at Rockland United Methodist Church. John enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and hunting. Anyone who knew John appreciated his fruits and vegetables, along with his famous rhubarb juice.

John is survived by his wife Florence of 58 years, his five children – Darwin (Pat) of Mesquite, TX; Ivan (Nancy) of Swartz Creek, MI; Karen (Kevin) Gunvalson of Alexandria, Mn; Gwendolyn Brouwer of Elko, NV; and Evonne (Joshua) Cash of Waunakee; three brothers, Five sisters and eight grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Jasper, and Joe.

One of John’s favorite Bible verses is Matthew 25:21 “Well done, thou good and faithful servant – Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

A memorial fund has been established for the Rockland United Methodist Church, 106 E. Main St., P. O. Box 44, Rockland, WI 54653.

Another option, which is one of John’s favorite charities, is for donations to be sent in lieu of flowers to this 501© 3 non-profit international organization helping the homeless and needy: Children’s Vision International, Inc. 1002 Grove Street, Box 380, Bangor, WI 54614 – (608)-486-4357 or (608)-792-9512. Website: www.childrfensvision.org  or email: childrensvision@aol.com. 

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2017, at Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel, 535 S. Hillcrest Parkway, Altoona, WI 54720.