Linda Rose Brown

Linda R. Brown, 83, of Danville, Indiana, passed away on July 18, 2026, surrounded by family following a brief period of health complications. Born in Mishawaka, Indiana, she was the eldest of five children, a role that commanded steady devotion and quiet strength. From an early age, she assumed a natural sense of responsibility and care—qualities that would define her life’s work.

Linda dedicated more than 40 years to nursing, serving at what is known today as Hendricks Regional Health Danville, throughout her entire career. When Hendricks County Hospital opened its doors in 1962, she began working in the Obstetrics unit during vacations from nursing school and joined the unit full time upon graduation in 1964. Her commitment to her patients, her colleagues, and her profession was unwavering. She was known for her skill, compassion and reassuring humor with patients, traits that made her a trusted caregiver and a beloved member of the local medical community. Upon retirement she had cared for new babies and their mothers (and delivered many herself) for 24 years, and patients undergoing outpatient surgery and recovery for 21 years. If you gave birth, were born, or had outpatient surgery at Hendricks between 1964 and 2009, it is highly likely that Linda was there with you.

Outside of work, Linda found joy in social gatherings with friends and family during her younger years. She enjoyed her home immensely and took great pride in home improvements and creating a comfortable space to enjoy with those she loved. Much like her parents, she was known for helping those in need and often opened her home to family and friends who might be going through a life transition. Throughout her life, she found joy in annual getaway trips to Koontz Lake in northern Indiana, which had once been home during her childhood. A fan of fishing and relaxation, her happy place was sitting on the dock with her fishing pole and a beer. Linda also enjoyed world travel as she became older and has visited many countries outside the United States. She is survived by her sister, Chris E. Friemanis, her three daughters Sharon Henady (Todd), Deb Lacey (John) and Gail Brown Gangwer (Kirk), five grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Harold K. “Buck” and Clara Horstmann, and siblings, Susan Worrall, Harold K. “Buck” Horstmann, III, and Wendy Newby. A celebration of life will be held on August 15, 2026, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, at the North Salem Community Building in North Salem, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Gathering Together Hospice Facility in Plainfield, Indiana. https://thegatheringtogether.org/donate/ The Gathering Together provides compassionate, dignified care in a residential setting to individuals in the final stages of life, without discrimination and at no cost.

Finally, Linda’s family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to the following: The staff and family at Park Square Manor in Avon, the assisted living facility that Linda selected after weeks of tours, for embracing her and helping her to maintain her independence at home, develop new friendships and experience a maintenance-free lifestyle; Dr. Todd Bertrand and his orthopedic team, for surgical expertise and their immediate and follow-up post-op care and pain management; the care teams at Franciscan Health Mooresville, who exhausted all options for determining the most appropriate treatments and for providing the highest quality skilled and compassionate care over this two-month journey; and finally, The Gathering Together for providing Linda with competent and compassionate care in a peaceful, comfortable environment during her final days.