Baja Corrine Brown

Baja was born to Mary Katherine (Sellers) and Jack Lihs on September 21, 1941, at their home in Cairo, IA, and she was lovingly raised by her parents as the youngest of eight children. She was a 1959 graduate of Wapello Community School, where Sam courted her and won her over after first sitting behind her in junior high and teasing her. Baja enjoyed school; she was a member of the student council, theater, choir, band, etc. and she was a cheerleader, cheering Sam on in his basketball games – go, Indians! They were married in Wapello, IA, on November 21, 1959. Baja and Sam moved to Durant, IA, in 1965, where she started her career as an accountant, first at Wilson Chevrolet in Durant, then Green Chevrolet Chrysler in East Moline, IL, from which she retired. Over the years, Baja and Sam enjoyed traveling as members of the Jaycees, to their children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and on family and friend vacations, including annual fishing trips to Lake Lida, MN.

Baja was incredibly hardworking and excelled at so many things. She created beautiful friendships through her kindness, her love and faith, her laughter and true joy. Her foremost passion was spending time with her family. She had a beautiful faith throughout her life, most recently as a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Princeton, IA. She loved gardening just like her mother, fishing and boating with family, cooking (her wonderful Baja food and Christmas cinnamon rolls), raising and releasing Monarch butterflies, coffee chats with family and friends, sewing and crafting, traveling, and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Chiefs.

Baja’s legacy is family. She and Sam have 3 children ~ Lori, Kelly and Eric, 8 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was incredibly proud of them all and was very present in their lives. She was a mother, a mentor, a soft touch, a beautiful light ~ she was everything all at once.

Surviving Baja are Samuel ~ her Sam; their children, Lori of Rock Island, IL, Kelly (and Tim) Frericks of Princeton, IA, and Eric Brown (and Vickie Felger) of Princeton, IA; their grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Baja’s big sister, Peggy (“Paja”) Lowary of Ames, IA, whom she adored; and several grand pets that she loved to visit and share stories about.

The family extends a thank you to the caring staffs at MercyOne Genesis Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, MercyOne Clinton Hematology and Oncology / Outpatient Infusion, MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center – East and West campuses, and to all who lent a hand and heart to both Baja and Sam.

At Baja’s request, cremation will be performed. A visitation will be held at Weerts Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. A funeral service will take place the following morning, Thursday, July 2, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 204 US-67, Princeton, IA.

Suggested memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Princeton, IA.