Florence Irene (Wessel) Smitherman Brown was born Jan. 9, 1950, in Goff, Nemaha County, Kan. to Henry Vincent and Gertrude Elizabeth (Akin) Wessel and died Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Louisburg.
She is survived by her husband Bill; her children, Linda K. (Jeff) Jensen of Lansing, Kan., and Sim T. (Kim) Smitherman Jr. of Louisburg; six sisters, Anna Segenhagen, Betty Vest, Teri Sharman, Rita Yunghans, Emma Krogmann and Julie Wessel; a brother, Fred Wessel; a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life was held at noon Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at New Hope Baptist Church with Pastor Lennon Ellis officiating. Burial was in Louisburg Cemetery under the direction of Cantlon-Otterness & Viets Funeral Home of Buffalo.
