Kathlyn Rae Roudybush was one of identical twin girls born on March 29, 1931, to Martha (Struwe) Roudybush and Clifford Roudybush. The twins were born on the family farm east of Lenox, IA. She always said Maralyn kicked her out! Weighing in at only three pounds each, the doctor said she would probably only live to be twelve years old!
Kathlyn attended country school, then high school in Lenox, IA. While in high school, she fell in love with a tall, handsome man, named Bob, who we were told had a “hot car!” She skipped across the yard when Bob asked her to go on their first date. Sparks flew a few days later on the 4th of July!
On May 22, 1949, she was united in marriage to Robert Dana (Bob) Brown of Lenox, IA. They moved to Lincoln, NE where she finished school and graduated in 1950.Through this union, they were blessed with seven children. Patricia Arlene (1949), Gary Lee (1950), Deanna Lynn (1953), William Robert (1955), James Alan (1957), Sheryl Rae (1959), and Ronald Dale (1963).
From Lincoln, they moved to Bagley, IA and shortly after they moved back home, living in a couple different farms east of Lenox, eventually moving west of Clearfield, IA, finally settling on a farm east of Lenox, IA where several family get togethers, campouts, reunions, and events took place. They retired from farming, moving into town, but still enjoyed trips back to the Brown family acreage.
In addition to all the hard work and dedication involved in raising a large family, Kathlyn enjoyed doing laundry, washing dishes, gardening, raising and dressing chickens, square dancing, card playing, bowling (All spare game pin to prove it!), camping, traveling to each state, crocheting, making several beautiful afghans for her family.
She was a waitress for a time and also loved driving the school bus for the Clearfield school for many years. She attended many sports games, always had a big pot of chili ready for whoever after Friday night football games. Besides selling Avon, Kathlyn was very proud and honored to be a med-aid working for the Clearview Nursing Home, Creston hospital and ending her working career at Taylor Ridge Estates. She was a member of the Lenox United Methodist Church and enjoyed her card club along with her time spent with the ladies at UMW.
Family get-togethers were special in the spring and fall, always playing card bingo with prizes for everyone and keeping order with her loud and annoying horn! Word search and coloring became her go to and she never passed up a good, fun game of Farkle! But most of all Kathlyn loved her family and would love to share stories, share pictures and tell you how many grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren they had! Kathlyn and Bob celebrated 76 years of marriage in May.
Left to cherish Kathlyn’s memory are her husband, Bob, and her children; Pat Wilson of Clearfield, IA; Gary Brown of Lenox, IA; Deanna Brown of Lenox, IA; Bill (wife Chris) of Clearfield, IA; Jim Brown and Sally Brown of Lenox, IA; Sherri (husband Hugh) Vogel of Lenox, IA; Ron (wife Kerri) Brown of Godley, TX; 20 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren; sister, Maralyn Barker; sisters-in-law, Clare Davis and Shirley Brown, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and cherished friends.
Kathlyn was preceded in death by her parents Clifford & Martha Roudybush, great-grandson Brody Dale Brown, daughter-in-law Kathy Brown, son-in law John Wilson, in-laws Eddie & Grace Brown, sister-in-law Susie Brown, brothers-in-law Darwin Brown, Darrell Brown, Dean Davis, and Don Barker.
Funeral Service for Kathlyn Brown, 94, of Lenox, Iowa will be held Friday, August 22, 2025 at the Arising Methodist Church in Lenox, at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be held Friday, August 22, 2025 from 1:00 PM until service time at the Church. Burial will be held at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Memorials may be directed towards the family to be established in Kathlyn's honor.
We will forever hold the precious memories of Kathlyn in our hearts.
