Karen Brown

Melstrand

Karen Brown, age 68, of Melstrand, Michigan, unexpectedly passed away in her home and began her journey to the spirit world on May 18, 2025. She was born November 12, 1956, in Cass Lake, Minnesota to Lawrance and Anna (Richardson) Brown.

Karen worked for many years as caregiver for elderly patients. She gave them the ability to stay in their homes while providing compassionate and sincere care to which they were so grateful. She attended the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and studied psychology. Karen spoke fondly of her classes and the lessons she learned at UWM.

Karen met Leigh Cowen in Milwaukee and together they spent many wonderful years together. She was a loving wife to Leigh and the two moved from Milwaukee to their Melstrand home which they referred to as "Camp." They shared many happy times together along with their dogs and created beautiful memories. Karen always kept an open invitation to family and friends to come up to visit them at Camp. Leigh and Karen were always together and they enjoyed traveling, especially the train trip they took to Seattle as well as their South Dakota trip to the Blackfeet powwow. This powwow was an emotional and spiritually filling trip, and Karen was honored to be called to dance with the Chief. Karen was proud of her Indigenous heritage and was an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation by her father, Lawrence, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe by her mother, Anna. Karen enjoyed peaceful settings, her dogs, nature, gardening, art, music, literature, sharing stories, silly humor, deep lengthy conversations, and tried to make sense of politics while always finding joy and laughter in life. As a child, her late Uncle Eugene Richardson gave her a name “Karen the Cat”.

Karen is survived by her loving husband Leigh Cowen of Melstrand; she was a cherished and amazing sister to 10 siblings: Douglas (Lori) English of Red Lake, MN, Gail Brown, Lori Najera, Stephanie Butterfield, Stephen Geluk, Wayne Geluk, Lynne Issa, Jennifer Geluk, all from Milwaukee, WI; thoughtful stepmother to Stephen (Bevin Dunn) Cowen of Tucson, AZ and to Ryan (Jodi) Cowen of Port Washington, WI; grandmother to Courtney and Connor Cowen; and Karen was blessed with many nieces and nephews and was always thoughtful in her responsibilities to her many relatives and friends. Awaiting their beloved daughter in the spirit world are her mother and stepfather Anna and Louis Geluk, her father and stepmother Lawrence K and Barbara Brown; brothers – Christopher Geluk and Danny Duran; brother-in-law Noris House; special cousin Cindy La Roque and other relatives.

Interment will take place in Milwaukee where she will be buried with her family. In lieu of services, please light a candle, offer a prayer, be kind to one another or a gesture of your choice to send Karen in a good way. Forever in our hearts.

Oh Great Spirit

I come to you as one of your children.

I need your strength and wisdom.

Make my hands respect what you have made.

Make my ears hear your voice.

Make me know the lesson you teach your children.

Make me strong to do what is right, so that at the sunset of my life I may come to you without shame and with straight eyes.