Leota Jean (Schutz) Brown, 88, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2026 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel, 801 19th Street, West Des Moines, IA. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Resthaven Mausoleum.
Jean, the first-born child of Faye and Edna Schutz, arrived on August 27, 1937 and was raised on the family farm in Macksburg, IA. She graduated from Macksburg High School where she was a pianist for school functions and a cheerleader. She also played the organ for church services and helped on the family farm.
Jean married Gail A. Brown on August 28, 1955 and made their home in West Des Moines, IA where they raised four children. In her spare time Jean enjoyed flower gardening and took special pride in her genealogy research, creating historical records for her family.
Those left to cherish Jean’s memory are her son, Greg (Terri); daughters, Joanie Florer, Carol Brown and Julie (Rod) Warren; 10 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; brother, Merrill (Connie) Schutz; brother-in-law, Ralph Breakenridge; and several nieces and nephews. Jean is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Georgina Breakenridge; husband, Gail; son-in-law, Tim Florer; and grandchildren, Nile Warren and Erik Florer.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
