Kathleen "Kate" Brown

Kathleen Elizabeth Brown died peacefully in her home with family by her side on March 19, 2024. Born just nine minutes after her twin brother, Kate was the youngest of Curt and Helen Brown’s five children.

After graduating from West Bloomfield High School in 1972, she enjoyed traveling and spending time living in both California and Florida before settling permanently in Holland in 1985 to be near her family. Living near all four of her siblings was a source of great joy. They treasured time together celebrating holidays, taking trips, meeting for happy hours, and genuinely enjoying being around one another. Being close to her siblings also gave her the opportunity to play an active role in the lives of her ten nieces and nephews. Kate loved her family and valued the relationships that she had with her siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She lost her mom early in life and lost two brothers in a short amount of time. Both of these had a profound impact on Kate and helped to create strong bonds between her and her older sister and twin brother. The three of them were the best of friends, spending time and talking on a near daily basis.

Kate appreciated a simple lifestyle and found great happiness at home with her beloved cats, Ashley and Sienna. It was in this home that she enjoyed the coziness of a good bowl of soup, a warm fire, and an old movie. It was in her home that she kept beautiful flowers, shared a glass of red wine with her sister, and spent time working on puzzles. It was in her home that she spent hours baking beautiful treats for friends and family and carrying on beloved holiday baking traditions passed down by her grandmother.

Those who loved Kate will miss the special relationships that they had with her. Through interesting conversations, sharing of advice, and many laughs, she built genuine, long-lasting relationships built on respect and love. Kate was fiercely loyal to those she loved and was quick to lend a helping hand. Her loss leaves a permanent hole in the hearts of many.

Faith was a driving force in Kate’s life, and she was very grateful for her many blessings. She used these blessings to give back to the community through sharing her time, talents, and resources with those in need. She found great comfort in prayer and the promise of a beautiful afterlife in Heaven.

Kate was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Curtis Brown, as well as her sister Kimberly Brown and brothers C. Michael and Marc Brown. She will be missed dearly by her sister, Karen Brown, her twin brother Dr. Kevin (Dr. Christine Gockman) Brown; her sisters-in-law, Rebecca Shankwiler-Brown and Leslie Brown; her best friend of fifty-five years, Michele Anderson; her nieces and nephews, Jennifer (Mike) Knittel, Matthew (Daynah Lente) Gustafson, Mary (Khaled) Mansour, Corrine (Jamie) Pierce, Jessica (Jared Bowman) Brown, Brian Brown, Justin Brown, Chelsea Brown, Meghan (Mike Thornton), and Daniel Brown; and five great-nieces and five great-nephews, aunts and an uncle.

Services will be held at Pillar Church on Monday, April 15, at 11:00. A celebration of Kate’s life will follow immediately at one of her very favorite restaurants.

Memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Humane Society.

Arrangements are by the Dykstra Funeral Home-Downtown Chapel.