Cleo Alice Brown

Cleo A. Brown

124 E. Franklin Street
Appleton

Age 81, died very suddenly and unexpectedly at her home on Saturday morning, April 28, 2001 after a debilitating illness of several years. She was born September 3, 1919 to the late Henry A. and Clara E. (Bartmann) Locksmith in Appleton, where she attended and graduated from St. Joseph Grade School. She graduated from Appleton High School (now Appleton West High School), where she was President of the German Club. Immediately after high school graduation in 1936, she worked at Appleton Zwicker Knitting Mill for a few years and married Joseph Brown in 1946. Cleo then moved to Milwaukee, where she was employed by the Astor, Lorraine and Knickerbocker Hotels and the Wisconsin Club. During the early 1950’s The Milwaukee Sentinel honored her as “The Special and Outstanding Hostess of the Year”. After 14 years, Cleo, returned to her hometown, Appleton, to take over as hostess of the new Holiday Inn. Next she became the owner, manager and operator of the Siesta and last, but most important of all, in 1970, she established what is today known as Cleo’s at 205 W. College Avenue, Appleton. (It was also known as “The Brown Beam” or Cleo’s Brown Beam”.) This cocktail lounge has become a legendary spot in the Midwest due to Cleo’s engaging, diligent and persistent hard work, with the added help of many nameless, helpful employees over a period of years. On January 25, 2000 overtaken by a terminal illness, of diabetic and cardiac origin, Cleo sold her precious business to the four Sosnoski brothers, Al, Dean, Ernest and Steve, who chose to retain the name “Cleo’s” and who have kept a special portrait of her above the cash register. Cleo was extremely happy that the Sosnoski brothers purchased her popular business and that they are maintaining its legendary reputation in such a responsible and enjoyable way. Cleo is survived by a devoted and loving sister, Lila Locksmith Huberty (Mrs. F. J.), with whom she lived at the same address for more than 30 years. Also surviving are a nephew and his wife, Dr. Lee H. and Roberta Huberty, of Kenosha and their six children and their families: Anne F. and Geoffrey Scharnhorst, and children, Kathryn R., Julianna G. and Madelyn J., Everett, WA; Dr. Mark C. and Heidi Huberty, and children Karl L., Julia M. and Lee C., Sheboygan Falls, WI; John T. and Cynthia Huberty, and children, Becky and Tony Lopez, Palm Bay, FL; William J. and Julia Huberty, and children, Matthew L., William I., Mashall J. and Mitchell J., Walnut City, CA; Jane J. Huberty, East Fort Myers, FL; Mary C. Huberty, Chicago, IL.; her former husband, Joseph Brown, whose name she retains. Cleo is also survived by numerous relatives and many, many friends of such a number that one cannot list them without unfairly missing important names. However, never to be forgotten is Cleo’s outstanding friend, Dorothy R. Sanborn, who unselfishly devoted most of her time, free and otherwise, to Cleo, especially during the last years of her illness. Please remember Cleo’s surviving family members are so grateful to all individuals who gave their love and time to her. To begin listing them would be unfair for fear of omitting names of true “givers”. We hope that understanding the problem is not impossible. Besides her parents Cleo was preceded in death by two sister, Iva H. (Locksmith) Huberty, first wife of F. J. Huberty and Stella Locksmith, two nephews Donald J. and Mark F. Huberty, a brother-in-law, F. J. Huberty. Private funeral services were held Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at the funeral home with Father John Holly, Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for St. Joseph Catholic Church.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 739-1231
www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com