Representative John J. Brown View All Years

JOHN J. BROWN

John J. Brown was born on April 27, 1913, in Ruthven, Iowa, to William and Gertrude Brown. He passed away on February 28, 2013, just 58 days before his 100th birthday. He is survived by his sons, John and his wife, Sue; David, and his wife, Janet; and Greg and his wife, Becky; and grandchildren, Stephanie, Steve, Scott, Natalie, Christina, David, Michael, and Allison.

Brown attended Ruthven public school and went on to be the first person in his family to attend college. In 1937 he graduated with a B.C.S. degree in Commerce from University of Iowa.

Brown was a World War II veteran who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. He married Joyce Devlin on June 19, 1943. In 1943, he was deployed to England on the Queen Mary where he trained for the invasion of Normandy. He was a member of the 5th Engineer Special Brigade attached to the 29th Infantry Division. Brown landed on Omaha Beach in the 6th Wave on June 7, 1944. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain.

He returned with his wife, Joyce, to Emmetsburg in 1946, where he was involved in real estate and insurance until he retired in 2000. During this time he served as the mayor of Emmetsburg. Additionally, he served as the Vice President and Director of the Iowa Real Estate Association, the Director of the Industrial Corporation, a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Affairs, and the Lions Club. He was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church and later Holy Family Parish.

He enjoyed spending time with his family on the water, sailing, boating, fishing, and swimming in Okoboji, where he was a judge for the Okoboji Yacht Club. He was also an avid hunter who spent much of his free time hunting mallards and pheasants.

Brown was a Palo Alto County Democrat. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1959–1961, during the 58th General Assembly, and in the Iowa Senate from 1961–1964, during the 59th and 60th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable John J. Brown, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

DARYL BEALL

DENNIS GUTH

AMANDA RAGAN

Committee