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William “Willie” Brown

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William “Willie” Brown

Birth	:	9 Aug 1940 Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	1 Jun 2020 Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.2908150, -91.7830920
Description	:	William (Willie) Brown, age 79, of Decorah passed away on Monday, June 1, 2020 at Barthell Eastern Star Home. He lived courageously these past few years with the many challenges of Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing. Willie was born on August 9, 1940 to Ned and Emma (Brynsaas) Brown, the youngest of seven children and lived his entire life in the Decorah area. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church of Decorah. He graduated from Decorah High School in 1959, where he met his sweetheart Karen... Read More	William (Willie) Brown, age 79, of Decorah passed away on Monday, June 1, 2020 at Barthell Eastern Star Home. He lived courageously these past few years with the many challenges of Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing. Willie was born on August 9, 1940 to Ned and Emma (Brynsaas) Brown, the youngest of seven children and lived his entire life in the Decorah area. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church of Decorah. He graduated from Decorah High School in 1959, where he met his sweetheart Karen Grindeland. On December 8, 1962, Willie and Karen married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust and began their life together. Over the next 57 years, they were by each other’s side every step of the way. After high school, Willie started working for Norman Berge of Berge, Inc., a local residential and commercial construction business. Norman saw in Willie a bright young man with a great work ethic and mentored him in running the business. In 1979, Willie and Karen bought the construction business from him and created Brown Builders, Inc. Willie took great pride in building a business around quality craftsmanship and service. He felt it was an honor and a privilege to work on remodeling and building people’s homes and businesses. Throughout his life, Willie was an active member of Decorah Lutheran Church. He shared his time and talents wherever needed - from waiting tables at the Nordic Fest dinner to serving on the building committee and a term as church council president. He also gave back to the community as a member of the Decorah Rotary Club for 31 years - from building Nordic Fest floats to serving a term as the President of the Rotary Club. During his time as a Rotarian, he was honored by receiving two Paul Harris Fellows, the highest honor bestowed by Rotary International. Willie enjoyed the outdoors and took his family on many camping and canoeing adventures. In his retirement he enjoyed his annual fishing trip with friends to Lake of the Woods. He always loved working with his hands whether it was a woodworking project like a Norwegian chest for someone to rosemale or carving Norwegian figurines. He also enjoyed watching or reading a good western and solving Sudoku puzzles. He loved his family deeply and was very proud of each of them. His family will remember him as a man of few words, with a gentle soul and a witty personality. Willie is survived by his wife Karen. Children: Todd (Jonel) Brown, Pam (Dean) Haugen, Cindy (Klint) Kjeldahl. Grandchildren: Nick (Lynne) Brown, Matt (fiancé, Amanda Witzlib) Brown, Lucas Brown, Aly Haugen, Lars Haugen, Kyra Kjeldahl and Anna Kjeldahl. Brother: Harris (Theo) Brown. Sisters: Dorothy Brooks, Lorraine Severson, Shirley Schick and Sadie (Bob) Sersland. Sisters-in-law: Joanne Helland and Linda (Tom) Johnson. Along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents: Ned and Emma (Brynsaas) Brown. Sister: Harriet (Les) Leidahl. Father and mother-in-law: Kenneth and Edna (Wendling) Grindeland. Sister-in-law: Clara Brown. Brothers-in-law: Bill Brooks, Elmer Severson, Carl Schick and Paul Helland. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials given to the following organizations: • Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice • Decorah Lutheran Church • Barthell Eastern Star Home • Parkinson's Foundation @ Parkinson.org Memorials may be sent in memory of Willie to his wife: Karen Brown, 103 Grove St, Decorah, IA 52101. A private family service will be held on Monday, June 8, 2020 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. Peter Kowitz presiding.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William “Willie” Brown's memorial?
William “Willie” Brown's memorial is located at: Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA.
When did William “Willie” Brown death?
William “Willie” Brown death on 1 Jun 2020 in Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William “Willie” Brown's memorial?
Latitude: 43.2908150
Longitude: -91.7830920

Family Members:

Parent

Ned Alvin Brown

(1900 - 1987)

Emma Josephine Brynsaas Brown

(1903 - 1998)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Phelps Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2908150, -91.7830920

2. Saint Benedict Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2835999, -91.7818985

3. Lutheran Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2987130, -91.7774110

4. Freeport Cemetery
Freeport, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3006000, -91.7430000

5. Aasa Haugen Home Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2698330, -91.8421110

6. Union Prairie Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2585983, -91.8368988

7. North Washington Prairie Pioneer Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2560997, -91.7236023

8. Washington Prairie Lutheran Church Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2378006, -91.7378006

9. Washington Prairie Norwegian Methodist Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2352982, -91.7433014

10. Russell Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3608017, -91.7885971

11. Canoe German Methodist Church Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3529000, -91.7358000

12. Bruvold Farm Cemetery
Nordness, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2221968, -91.7509863

13. Springfield Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2221985, -91.8171997

14. McIntosh Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2696991, -91.8833008

15. Glenwood Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2947998, -91.6760406

16. Madison Lutheran Church East Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3133000, -91.8986000

17. Springwater Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3792000, -91.7431030

18. Garfield Family Cemetery
Conover, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2266900, -91.8846700

19. Hauge Lutheran Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3922000, -91.7740000

20. Madison Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3135986, -91.9233017

21. Madison Settlement Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2607994, -91.9233017

22. Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery
Decorah, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2817001, -91.6346970

23. Pontoppidan Cemetery
Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2747002, -91.6339035

24. Scandinavian Methodist-Episcopal Cemetery
Washington Prairie, Winneshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2695000, -91.6347000