Marlene R. Brown

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Psalm 33: 1

Marlene R. Brown a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, entrepreneur, pioneer businesswoman, investor, and friend passed peacefully into Jesus’ arms at Belmont Village - West University on the 4th of February 2026, Houston, Texas.

Marlene is survived by her brother John G. Kasper (Laura) -Chicago, Sisters-in-Law, Betty A. Kasper (Sobecki), and Lillian S. Kasper (Grochowski). Her children Victoria A. Brown-Sobecki (Dan) - Houston and Bruce K. Brown - League City. Grandchildren Matthew S. Brown (Colyn) – League City, Austin H. Brown (Haley) -Cleveland and Dalton M. Brown-League City. Great-Grandchildren, Tinley R. Brown, Blakely L. Brown, Carter M. Brown, Brice B. Brown, and Brooks R. Brown. Aunt Marlene leaves great memories with her loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and the Texas A&M University Houston Aggie Mothers’ Club.

She is preceded in death by her Grandmother Constance A. Skrentny (Paszkiet), Grandfather Frank Skrentny, Mother Margaret A. Kasprzyski (Paszkiet), Father Stanley J. Kasprzyski (Kasper). Siblings Julianne C. Wojtalik (Kasper), Carol M. Dobbs (Kasper), Richard S. Kasper, and Jerome E. Kasper. Husbands Frazier Kenneth “Ken” Brown and Juan F. Flores.

Marlene was born on July 16, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois to Margaret A. Kasprzyski (Paszkiet) and Stanley J. Kasprzyski. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. As the oldest of six children, she spent her childhood and teenage years in Chicago helping take care of her siblings, babysitting, playing catcher for a local softball team, and worked for Zam’s ice cream and candy store. She traveled and spent time with relatives in Downers Grove, IL, and Tennessee.

Marlene’s talent for music and art was recognized by the Chicago School District with scholarship opportunities to further her education at The Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University. Her performances were structured to perform classical or sacred repertoire. Her scholarships led to public appearances in Chicago, singing a cappella the National Anthem and God Bless America. Mom always told her children, “The National Anthem is the most complex and difficult music to sing a cappella.” Her voice was her instrument.

In addition to music, The Art Institute engaged Marlene in the opportunity to study and actively participate in all art mediums. Her primary artistic interest was oil painting. Her large oil paintings depict nature and were not for sale. Her desire was to use them to decorate and enhance the beauty of her home. Throughout her lifetime she continued to paint, draw, and teach the value of music and art in one’s life.

After completing her studies at The Art Institute, Marlene decided to enter the personnel industry. Today, we would call it Human Resources. She had the desire to “put to work” veterans from World War II and Korea who were returning home to Chicago. She landed her first position with a firm on Michigan Avenue and was extremely successful.

Marlene was offered a partnership and had offers from investors to help her start her own personnel agency. However, she had met and became engaged to Frazier “Ken” Brown, Navy WWII veteran, and a Lake Michigan Oak Street Beach lifeguard. Ken was working at the time in sales at a popular Chicago department store.

In 1952, Marlene and Ken married and ventured out of Illinois and drove to Houston, Texas in a 1949 unairconditioned Ford Station Wagon. They were both in pursuit of building their career paths that would bring them success in a new community of 450,000 residents. Most important was to live far away from the bitter cold, snow, and ice of the Midwest.

Marlene was a 23-year-old savvy businesswoman who arrived in Houston in the Spring of 1953 on the Santa Fe Chief railroad at Union Station. It is now called Daiken Park, the home of the World Series Champions Houston Astros. She walked from Union Station down Texas Ave. to Main Street with her suitcase and $100.00 in her purse.

Before leaving Chicago, Marlene contacted Ms. Geneva Kerlin, who owned Dixie Employment Service in Houston. Over a long-distance telephone call and a letter of recommendation from the owner of the Chicago-based employment agency, Marlene was hired to work when she arrived in Houston. Ms. Kerlin helped Marlene open a bank account in her name and deposited $100.00. Ms. Kerlin had a personal and business account at Citizen’s Bank on Main Street and knew the bank, President. In 1953 women could not open a bank account in Texas without a husband’s signature. The bank was willing to wait until her husband Ken arrived in Texas. Marlene stayed for a couple of days in Ms. Kerlin’s home, until she located a beautiful apartment that were once the “maid’s quarters” in a residential home on Southmore Blvd.

Prior to Marlene’ arrival in Houston in 1953, Allstate Insurance, a subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Company, hired Ken Brown as an automobile insurance agent. Ken arrived in Houston three months after Marlene. He started walking the floors of the Sears Main Street retail store to provide insurance to Houstonians and Marlene put Houstonians to work. Friends Gertrude and Kurt Ammann suggested St. Matthew Lutheran Church – Houston as a place of worship that was near their apartment. After confirmation classes, they became active and lifetime members.

In 1956, Marlene established her woman owned business, Cadillac Employment Agency. That same year her “baby girl” Victoria Anne was born. Victoria was the first to be born in Texas on both sides of the family. In 1960 Marlene was awarded Most Outstanding Woman of the LaSalette Place Civic Club.

After six years of proven success and accomplishments, Cadillac Employment Agency was sold. Marlene, Ken, and Marlene’s mother, Margaret, sustained a head on car collision by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1961. Marlene was in a coma for two weeks. Due to Marlene and Ken’s injuries, they were then flown back to Houston. Margaret was flown back to family in Chicago for medical treatment. Mom Marlene endured eight reconstructive surgeries in one year on right side of her face, head, and body to regain movement and eyesight. The skilled hands of surgeon Dr. Thomas Cronin, St. Joseph Hospital, his pioneering medical team, and deep prayer with God, Marlene was able to heal mentally, physically, and regained her eyesight.

Through prayer and the God’s grace, the Brown family welcomed son and brother Bruce Kenneth in 1962. He brought joy and energy to Mom Marlene. During her recovery for decades, her family would find her working in her home office answering Allstate customer phone calls, cold calling potential customers, organizing customer index cards, and assisting Ken with his “book of business” through 1980.

She worked, served, and volunteered in wide array non-profit and business organizations. At St. Matthew Lutheran Church she served as the 10 -15-year-old lead youth group Sunday School teacher, school cafeteria manager, fundraiser for the Fall Festival, organized her children’s classroom Fall Festival game booth and served as room mother.

One year the St. Matthew Christmas concert sung by the Adult and Children Choirs was recorded on a vinyl album. One of her favorite accomplishments and memories. She loved the fact at St. Matthew’s Church; she sang in the adult choir while Vicki and Bruce sang in the children’s choir. She made sure her children learned how to read music by taking piano lessons.

Marlene was committed to attend her children’s activities at St. Matthew Lutheran School and Bellaire High School - Houston. She was an active Board Member of the Meyerland Club, now the Jewish Community Center, Dad’s Club YMCA Swimming and Diving Board of Directors and was a certified Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) official, stroke and turn judge for competitive swimming.

She drove thousands of miles to and from her children’s practices and game days for football, baseball, basketball, softball, and volleyball. She wore out three station wagons carpooling 7-9 swimmers from the Meyerland area to the Dad’s Club YMCA off I-10 and Voss Road for morning and evening practices. Marlene drove her kids and other swimmers to swimming competitions for Texas Age Group Swimming, Junior Olympics, UIL, time trials, and Invitational competitions.

In the 70’s Marlene and Ken were among the founding designers and charter donors to build the Dad’s Club YMCA outdoor 50-meter pool and facility. Currently, the pool still provides a venue for fitness, swimming practices, competition, and the promotion of competitive swimming. Their legacy continues.

Vicki receives early acceptance to Texas A&M University, College Station in 1974. She became one of the first women student-athletes to start the TAMU Women’s Athletic Department and receive an athletic scholarship. Marlene would attend Texas A&M University Women’s Swimming and Water Polo competitions when possible. In 1977, after the TAMU Women’s Swimming Team won the TAIAW Championship, mom Marlene hosted her home and cooked spaghetti dinner for the victorious team.

Marlene continued to carpool and attended Bruce’s swimming practices and competitions. He continued to compete at an elite level in age group, AAU, HISD district and UIL State Championships. She was busy as the mom of the Bellaire Birdkeeper (Cardinal Mascot) and Future Farmer of America (FFA). She stopped carpooling when he attended the University of Texas.

During retirement Marlene served as a docent for the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and part-time employee for the Houston Symphony. As a consultant, she shared her knowledge and experience with Workflow Filing Office Solutions, R.E. Publications, Lengston, Inc., CVSI Inc., CAD Technology, Inc., and received in 1994 Outstanding Achievement Award at Temporary Professionals, Inc.

She was a proud Charter and season ticket member of the Houston Oilers and Alley Theater. A huge fan of the Colt 45’s, Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Houston Texans, Aggies, Longhorns, and the Olympics. She loved sports!

Marlene passionately believed all children should be baptized and be confirmed with God blessings. Then encourage them to go out in the world and use those talents to the Glory of God. She loved to sing hymns, Christmas carols, and listen to classical music.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude for the loving and tireless care provided by Dr. Sanila Rana and her assistant Cynthia. A sincere thank you to Brit Burke, Belmont-West University Executive Director, Belmont nursing, administrative staff, and the prayerful support of each PAL who took care of Ms. Marlene, and Harbor Hospice.

Visitation is Saturday, February 28, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.; Celebration Service from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services, 7010 Chetwood Drive, Houston, Texas 77081. Please click on the link to livestream the service

Interment is to be announced later.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Marlene can be sent to Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 8601 Chimney Rock Rd., Houston, Texas 77096 Attn: Music Ministry; Alzheimer’s Disease Research or the charity of your choice.