CAROLYNN BROWN-SCHOENING

Carolynn Brown-Schoening, 87, of Neenah, Wi passed away on August 23, 2025.

Carolynn, born December 3rd, 1937, grew up in northern California. She graduated from the University of Maryland and earned a master’s degree in counseling from UW Oshkosh.

Carolynn was an educator, counselor, and caretaker, active in the community most recently as a mediator for Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center and member of the Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team.  

Carolynn is preceded in death by her parents Byron and Louise Beattie, her brother Ron Beattie, her first husband Larry Tim Brown, her brother-in-law Jim (Jacquelyn) Anderson, and her sister-in-law Karen (Bill) Heintzelman.  She is also preceded in death by Ellen and David Schoening. Following Tim’s death, Carolynn, Ellen and David joined their families.  The year following Ellen’s death, Carolynn and David married. 

She is survived by her sister, Jacquelyn Anderson; by ten children/step-children:  Dori Hoffmann (Tom), Debbie Krejcarek (Terry), Darel Schoening (Ranay Blanford), Darci Strobel (Jim), Diny Weyenberg, (John), Sean Brown (Denise Konen), Dave Schoening (Shiho), Kevin Skwira-Brown (Anne), Darin Schoening (Jennifer), Damon Schoening (Jennifer); 22 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Carolynn was gifted in working with others.  From school counseling, to mediation, to her work as a crisis responder, her compassion, acceptance, and clear communication were an asset to many.  In a world where women are too often overlooked and undervalued, Carolynn led and contributed in her own, collaborative way.  She was instrumental in bringing drug and alcohol abuse programming to the Neenah schools and community and was recognized for her excellence in Counseling in 1984 and 1995.

At her core, she was someone who saw value in people, accepted them for who they were, and loved others wholeheartedly.  This was demonstrated in her capacity for listening genuinely.  Whatever was important to someone else, became important to her.  It is a rare gift to be listened to, seen, and valued so completely.  Carolynn gifted many in her life in that way.  

Carolynn will be missed by those of us whose lives she touched and enriched. 

Visitation will be at Neenah’s Westgor Funeral Home from 4:00-6:00pm on Sunday, Sept. 7th.  A Catholic Mass at St. Joseph Parish, 404 W. Lawrence St., in Appleton, will be held on Monday, Sept. 8th, at 11:00am.    Burial will occur at a later time.  In remembrance, please consider memorials in support of the Wisconsin Parkinson’s Association, Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team, or Valley VNA Senior Care’s Staff Appreciation Fund.

The family is grateful for the loving, personal, compassionate, professional care provided by the staff of Valley VNA Senior Care and Theda Care Hospice.