Marjorie J. Brown

FALL RIVER, WIS. – Marjorie June Brown, age 86, died peacefully in her sleep from the complications of Parkinson’s Disease on February 28, 2025.

Marge was born in Ladysmith, Wisconsin on June 11, 1938, as one of six children to Reuben William Pagel and Mildred (Susen) Pagel. She married Nigel Beynon Brown on June 17, 1955, at Fort Riley, Kansas. A housewife and mother of 5, she worked at the Columbus Wis. Dairy Queen, the Wis. Department of Revenue in Madison, and Boston Store. She was the owner of Browns Drive In, The Columbus Curiosity Shop & Antique Store, and Marge’s Café. She loved baking and hosting family dinners, adventuring to Ho-Chunk, attending family reunions and travelling to see the national parks. She served as the activities director in her Lakeland winter home community and was Queen of the Farkle game. She collected dolls, Hummel figurines, decorative plates, cookie jars, and Christmas ornaments among other treasures.

Marge is survived by three sons and two daughters, Nigel (Gloria) of Lexington, KY, Tom (Marcia) of Fall River, WI, Vicki (Raymond) Benassutti of Lumberton, NJ, Debbie Henning of Marshall, WI, and Roger of Columbus, WI; her grandchildren, Ashley (Tony) Green of Nicholasville, KY, Lindsay (Jim) McGeady of Tulsa, OK, Doug (Angie) Van Horn of Janesville, WI, Deanna Grossman of Madison, WI, Ryan (Nicole) Butler of Columbus, WI, Melissa (Rachel Wise) King of Wilmington, DE, Rachel Benassutti of Mount Holly, NJ, Aaron (Desiray) Brown of Leander, Texas, and Jacob Brown of Platteville, WI; sister-in-law Mellany Pagel; and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Nigel of 64 years; siblings, Eugene (Donna), Melvin (Linda), Jeffery, Bernice Stilson, Lorraine Benson, and Shirley Woodcock; and son-in-law, Dennis Henning.

A celebration of Marge’s life will be held at the Columbus American Legion Hall, 229 Poet St., Columbus, Wis., on April 12, 2025, from noon to 3 p.m.

All Faiths Funeral and Cremation Service of Madison is assisting the family. Online condolences can be shared at www.866allfaiths.com.