Robert Brown

Robert Clarence Brown was born on February 28, 1926, to Clarence and B. Muriel (Thompson) Brown in Atlantic, Iowa. He passed away on May 5, 2008, at the age of 82.

Bob was born in Atlantic and moved to the family farm north of Wiota when he was 8 years old with his family and his dog, Shep. One of Bob's first jobs was with Kloppenberg trucking in Wiota. Bob worked for Eblen Construction building Hwy 92. He later started "Brown Construction Co", a heavy equipment, dirt moving and basement digging business. He was drafted in 1950 during the Korean Conflict and served in Germany. He ended his military service as a Master Sergeant. He went to work for Cass County as a dragline operator. He later entered the shop and became shop foreman. Bob retired from the County in December of 1988.

Bob was a member of the American Legion and also the Masonic Lodge in Anita and Atlantic. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Past-Masters Club. Bob was awarded his 50 year Masonic Apron in 2006. Bob's greatest joy was his family and his coffee buddies. He was an avid gardener where he started seedlings in his green house and loved woodworking projects he completed in his garage.

On May 29, 1954, Bob was married to Nola Jane Ward in Maryville, Missouri. Bob loved to tell the story that they were married by "A Monk" (Rev. Byran Monk) and how one of them paid for the blood tests and the other paid for the license. Their first home was in Wiota. In 1958 they moved to a farm on a hill north of Anita where they spent the rest of their married life.

Bob is survived by Nola, his wife of 54 years; two sons, Edward (Ramona) Brown of Bondurant, Jennifer and Sharon; James (Joyce) Brown of Kennewick, WA, James (Daja) and Jacey. Four daughters, Claire (Jim) Brittain of Guthrie Center, Mindi, Robert (Jessica), Samantha, Kimberly; Joyce (Randy) Heaton of Sibley, Michelle (Brian) Renken, Brooke, April and Spenser; Kathryn (Mark) Pettinger of Nevada, Derrick, Jarrad and Korrin; and JoAn (Daryl) Armstrong of Anita, Jaxson. Two sisters, Winifred (Babe) Mueller, Atlantic and Donnabelle Willis, Colorado Springs, CO. Sister-in-law, Geniveve Brown of Altoona and six brothers-in-law, Billie Parker of Anita, Donald (Jeri) Ward, Atlantic, Howard (Barb) Ward, Grant, Larry Ward (Caren), Wiota, Kenneth (Judy) Ward, Lincoln, NE, and Richard (Janie) Ward, Plano, TX. Four great-grandchildren, Nicole, Kelsey, Tabitha and Carson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and B. Muriel (Thompson) Brown; brothers, Gerald and Byron Brown; sister, Carole (Brown) Parker; and grandson, Jeremy Evan Brown. Father and mother-in-law, John W. and Anna C. (Nelson) Ward. Numerous in-laws, Lester (Chet) Mueller, Raymond Willis, Bob and Rosemarie (Pat Ward) Ueckert, Harold and Leitha (Ward) Weihs, Miles and Marilyn (Ward) Cross, Dorothy Ward and Kathryn (Kay) Ward.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2008, at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Anita, Iowa. Visitation will start at 1:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, also at the funeral home. Special services will include the Masonic Obedience Lodge#380 and the American Legion Post #210. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.