Marlys Ann (Peterson) Brouwer

Marlys A. Brouwer, age 88, of Prinsburg, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 17, at the Comfort House hospice facility in Pella, Iowa.

A service to remember and celebrate Marlys’s life will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, May 23, at Bunde Christian Reformed Church (5086 140th Ave SE, Clara City, MN 56222). Visitation will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Bunde cemetery, with a light lunch afterward at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to honor Marlys's life may be directed to the Bunde Christian Reformed Church - Mom's Ministry Fund.  Arrangements are with the Tri-County Funeral Home in Prinsburg.  www.tricountyfuneral.com

Marlys Ann Brouwer was born on January 7, 1937, in Gorton Township, Grant County, Minnesota, the daughter of Harry Clarence William Peterson and Alnora Adelia (Hicks) Peterson. She spent her early years moving with her family throughout Minnesota, the Dakotas, and California — a journey that shaped her resilience and adaptability. She settled near Willmar, Minnesota after high school, where she met Ken Brouwer, who would become her husband and partner through many seasons of life. They were married on June 5, 1957, in Willmar, and soon after made their home on a farm near Prinsburg, close to Ken’s parents.

Marlys devoted herself to nurturing a home rooted in love and faith. She walked alongside her husband in the demands of farm and family life, all while raising their four children and keeping the household running with tireless energy.

She is survived by her four children: Becky Bandstra (Bryan) of Pella, Iowa; Tom Brouwer (Wendy) of Fort Defiance, Arizona; Scott Brouwer (fiancée Kim) of Litchfield, Minnesota; and Mark Brouwer (Charlene) of Princeton, Minnesota. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren who continue to carry forward her legacy of love and faith. 

Marlys is also survived by her brothers: Luverne (Leticia) Peterson of Cushing, Minnesota, and Harry (Paulette) Peterson of Willmar, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth Willard Brouwer; her sister, Darlene Peterson; an infant brother Vernon; and her parents, Harry and Alnora Peterson.

Those who knew Marlys will remember her gentle spirit, steady faith, and good sense of humor. She carried herself with a quiet kindness that made people feel seen and cared for. At Bunde Christian Reformed Church, she was a faithful presence — teaching in Ladies’ Aid, leading the MOPS group, and helping to guide the prayer ministry. She also tended a large garden that helped feed her family — one more way she lived out her care in practical, generous ways. 

We grieve Marlys passing, but not without hope. We hold to Christ's promise: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die’” (John 11:25). Marlys lived a life of faith, service, and care for others — and her influence will carry on in the lives she shaped.

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