Janis “Emily” Brown
On Sept 2, 2023, the world lost an exceptional human, a loving mother, devoted friend, and legendary educator. She was born Janis Peterson, in Osceola NE on October 22, 1952. She flourished in small-town rural life, and later spoke so fondly of memories on the farm with her five siblings. She attended Osceola High School, where she was a band member, cheerleader, and homecoming queen. After graduating high school in 1971, she went on to attend Midland Lutheran College in Fremont from 1971-1975, where she would ultimately settle the roots for her career and family as well as change her name to Emily, as many have come to know her. She began student teaching at Fremont High School in 1974, where she would remain for the entirety of her celebrated career as a sophomore English teacher. Her love for words and literature combined with her enthusiastic teaching approach fostered her success. However, she is perhaps more revered for her exceptional ability to connect with her students and colleagues. She was truly a friend to all, impacting countless lives with her infinite kindness and genuine interest in their unique personalities. She lit the halls of FHS with her humor and compassion, always the first to correct your grammar or to lend a shoulder to cry on. After her retirement in 2011, she continued to influence lives as a substitute teacher for eight more years. Her impact as an educator and friend to her students is unmatched. In 1975 she married Brian Brown. During their 31- year union, she raised two daughters, Anna and Martha. She was an incredibly devoted and fun-loving mother, never ceasing to provide unconditional support, while always instilling the value of kindness.
She was preceded in death by her father, Milton Peterson, and her mother Jean Peterson. She is survived by her daughters: Anna Phares (Brown) and husband Karl Phares, and their children Henry (11) and Kate (4) of Westwood, KS; Martha Oliver (Brown) and husband Chris Oliver and their children Harper (12), Finley (10), and Beau (6), of Savannah, MO; brother Jim Peterson and wife Ruth Peterson of Blair NE; sister Peg Zeilinger (Peterson) and husband Keith Zeilinger of Kailua, HI; sister Anita Reiss (Peterson) and husband Harv Reiss of Emmaus PA; brother Bill Peterson and wife Jo Peterson of Osceola NE; brother Tom Peterson and wife Suzanne Peterson of Osceola NE; and the in-laws of her daughters whom she loved as family, Rob and Leslie Oliver of Falls City, NE, and Bob Phares of Fremont, NE. She is also survived by countless friends, colleagues, former students, and additional family members-far too many to list-who share in mourning.
Donations can be directed to the Fremont Area Community Foundation for the creation and support of a memorial scholarship in Janis’ name.
