In the loving arms of her family, Jennifer Louise Brownlee, age 71, peacefully passed away September 26, 2024, from complications following heart surgery. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, October 14, at First Presbyterian Church, Spirit Lake, Iowa. Following the service, please join us for a celebration of life at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. A private family committal service will be held prior to the service at Evergreen Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Memorials may be designated for the Pearson Lakes Art Center or the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory.
Jennifer was born October 6, 1952, in Mason City, Iowa, to Elizabeth Weiner Kuehl and George Kuehl. She graduated from Ames High School in 1971 and continued her education at Colorado State University, University of Valencia in Spain before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
Following graduation, she had a modeling career in Dallas, Texas, then moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where she worked in residential real estate for Iowa Realty.
Jennifer met the love of her life, Craig, while they were spending time at their family summer homes at Lake Okoboji. They met on the neighborhood tennis court which was the start of a lifetime of tennis together and several city and club mixed doubles championships.
Jennifer and Craig were married April 7, 1978, in Ames, Iowa. After a trip to the Virgin Islands, they settled in Emmetsburg, Iowa, where Craig ran his family farm operation and management business.
Jennifer and Craig raised their children, Kate and Sam, in Emmetsburg and spent summers in Okoboji. Jennifer was a loving wife and mother and dedicated her life to her family, including the dogs. Homemade family dinner at the kitchen table was a nightly routine.
Jennifer was active in her community as a volunteer for countless projects and organizations. She taught Sunday school, tutored young students, served on the library board, hospital auxiliary and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. She was also a long-standing member of the local P.E.O. chapter. Jennifer served as President of the Emmetsburg School Board of Education and was appointed by the Governor to the Iowa Public Broadcasting Network Board.
After Kate and Sam graduated from college, Jennifer and Craig made Okoboji their permanent home. She was proud to serve on the Arnolds Park board, volunteer countless hours at the Okoboji Yacht Club and host many political fundraisers. As a fun project, she and her good friends bought and operated the popular seasonal coffee shop,Arnolds Perk.
Her Okoboji days were filled with long boat rides, watching sailboat races and taking shoreline walks – always happy to chat with her many friends along the way. She made everyone feel special.
Jennifer was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and rarely missed a football game while her son Sam played. The family trips to five bowl games were some of her fondest memories.
For the past 20 years, Jennifer and Craig spent much of the winter in Naples, Florida, in a community named Mediterra where they developed close and lasting friendships. They spent their time playing tennis and golf and attending charitable events and dinners. Jennifer also enjoyed her bocce ball teams and playing cards and Mahjong with her friends. The highlight of her time in Mediterra was when her family came to visit.
Jennifer was incredibly artistic and had an eye for making things beautiful. She had a passion for decorating homes and enjoyed helping friends with their projects. She loved to spend her free time painting. It was her spiritual outlet.
As active as Jennifer was, she always found time for her family and friends. She was a doer – someone you could count on. She truly made a lasting impression on all who knew her. We are all blessed to have had her as a friend and a dedicated, loving wife, Mom and “Nina”.
Nina’s time with her four grandchildren was tragically cut short. She shared a very special, loving relationship with them and they will continue to exhibit her kind and caring nature in her honor.
Jennifer is survived by her husband, Craig of Okoboji, Iowa; daughter, Kate Krejci and husband Drew and their children, Isabelle and Charlie of Deephaven, Minnesota; her son Sam and wife Hannah and their children, Bo and Henry of Okoboji, Iowa; her brother-in-law, George Wittgraf (wife Vicki, deceased) and their children, Jason (wife Ann) of Des Moines, Iowa, and John and George of Cherokee, Iowa; her brother-in-law, Mark Brownlee and wife Jane and their children,Jack and Jordan (husband Nick) of Des Moines, Iowa; brothers, Jeff Kuehl of North Palm Beach, Florida and J.D. Kuehl of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Arrangements by the Martin-Mattice Funeral Home
martinmatticefuneralhome.com
