OBITUARIES

Brenda Slaven Thorn, 58

Poweshiek County CR
powcr@registermedia.com

Brenda Slaven Thorn, 58, of rural Grinnell, died on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at her home.

Brenda Slaven Thorn, 58

A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 7, 2017, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Visitation will be held prior to her service beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at Rock Creek Cemetery west of Grinnell. A reception will be held at the Kellogg Legion.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Brenda Slaven Thorn Memorial Fund, to help purchase a monument for her place of rest, and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

Brenda was born on June 10, 1959, in Grinnell, Iowa to Guy and Bernice (Atwood) Slaven. She attended Grinnell High School and worked at Cunningham Drug serving Candyland Sundaes after school. She met and married Kevin Thorn on July 15, 1999, and together they had a daughter, Courtney. The couple later divorced. Brenda worked at DeLong's and later Rock Creek Athletics, until they closed. She was currently working at TPI; finding friends and joking around made the work days go quickly.

Some of her hobbies included collecting shells, antiquing and being outdoors soaking up the sun and enjoying the nature around her. Brenda was an excellent seamstress and could make anything. She always rooted for the Kansas City Chiefs. There are hosta plants all over her yard; you might say that they were her favorite. She enjoyed fishing, boating and going to her dad's lake house. Brenda and Courtney took a trip to Florida and most recently ventured to Kentucky.

Her greatest love was her family and they will forever cherish her smile, her laugh, the way she cared for others and her rambunctiousness. Brenda had several dear friends, but she was always Courtney's best friend.

Brenda will be remembered by her daughter, Courtney (Cristian Aguilar) Thorn of Grinnell; her brothers, Steve "Boat" (Sally) Slaven of Chelsea and William (Pam Gruhn) Doud of Kellogg; four nieces, Shae, Stephanie, Stacy and Shelby Slaven; three aunts; two uncles; several cousins and lots of dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and several aunts, uncles and cousins.