Erika Eleonore Brown was a caring Wife, Mother, Oma, Sister, and Friend. Erika was born in Plankstadt, Germany on January 3, 1942. She was one of three children (Heinz and Margot) born to the parents of Margaret Treiber and Emil Engelhardt. Erika was raised in a loving home of strong Christian faith. She was an adventurous young girl, loving the outdoors, sports, dancing and spending time with family and friends.
In 1961, at the age of 19, Erika went to the United States to visit her sister. It was at that time, she chose the adventure of a lifetime, to stay in the United States. She settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While in Milwaukee, she met and fell in love with Calvin Niemi. They were married in 1964 and wasted no time starting to raise a family together in Three Lakes, Michigan. After years of enduring the upper peninsula winters in Michigan, and the tremendous loss of their son, Donald Niemi, they ventured south to Texas with their other two children, Daniel, and Pamela. After getting settled in Texas, they were blessed with another child, Michael. Unfortunately, three months later, Calvin passed away unexpectedly. After being widowed in 1969, Erika continued to move forward finding a host of multiple jobs, here and there, to make ends meet as a single parent of three children and having a language barrier.
Finally in 1974, she found a career that would combine her love of church, family, children, and education. Erika became a Mother’s Day Out preschool teacher for Grace Lutheran Church in Arlington. The very next year, in 1975, Erika fell in love for the second time with Gwynne Brown, and in that same year, they would marry. In 1976, they welcomed their daughter, Mary, and continued raising their family in Arlington. In 1995, Erika was met with tragedy for a third time, she lost her husband Gwynne and became a widow once again. Twice widowed, she always kept the can-do attitude. Her strong level of independence was admired by those who knew and loved her. Erika continued to see life as a great adventure. She embraced her church family at Grace Lutheran, she took family vacations, and always loved to entertain. Family dinners were a must, but traditional holiday dinners were always made special by our mother, Erika. She was loved by so many. She gave Grace Lutheran Church 37 years of teaching children before retirement.
Those who knew Erika, knew that her favorite past time was playing bingo and going to the casino. She loved her slot machines and the people she met while playing. There were no strangers around her. Erika had a green thumb and took great pride with her yard and flower beds, as she spent many hours working on them to make them look just right. Just like going to bingo and the casino, her time in the yard was also her time to socialize with her neighbors, friends, and family. There she would spend hours on the front porch talking to them and admiring the view.
Erika was a strong Christian woman, always knowing where her strength would come from, which was from her favorite Bible verse, (Psalms 121:2) My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! She would help anyone in need. She loved to sing her favorite songs despite changing a few words) from Engelbert Humperdinck and Die Flippers on Saturdays while she cleaned. That music represented the joy she carried with her daily.
In 2020, Erika was diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer’s and by 2021 she moved from her lifelong home in Arlington, Texas to live with her daughter and her family in Argyle, Texas. Erika was blessed to be able to have her daughter, Mary, and her husband, Matthew, be her fulltime caretakers. In true Erika fashion, that did not slow her down. No longer able to venture off solo, she continued doing all the things she loved to do, like music, gambling, movies, theatre performances, coffee runs, convertible rides, but most importantly, spending time with her family, whether it was in Texas or Tennessee. In early 2023, as the Alzheimer’s progressed, she was also diagnosed with lung cancer that was complicated by her COPD and interstitial lung disease. Despite her illnesses, she continued with the same can-do attitude, and put her family and friend’s needs above her own. On April 23, 2024, at 1:55 pm when her body could not sustain anymore, Erika passed peacefully with her family by her side to start her new adventure with the Lord and her loved ones. Mom, Oma, Erika you will be missed, but your memory remains intertwined with all the minds and hearts you touched.
Erika is survived by her Brother Heinz Engelhardt and his wife, Erika, who lives in Germany. She also has a sister, Margot Kaap, who resides in Virginia. Erika is survived by her children: Daniel Edward Niemi, Pamela Ann Hayes and husband Gregory Hayes, Michael Calvin Niemi Sr. and wife Tara Antonette Niemi Mary Helena Holtman and husband Matthew Holtman Her many grandchildren: Cassandra, Tracy, David, Michael, Matthew, Taylor, Ena, Lainy, Grant, Abigail, Elizabeth, Michael, Katherine, Jonathan, and Christopher. Her great grandchildren: Hayden, Cason, Dallas, Dax, Jaxon, Roman, Silas, and Elaine
Visitation: Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis, Arlington, TX. Funeral: Friday, May 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church, 210 W Park Row, Arlington, TX. Committal: Moore Memorial Gardens.
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