Senator S. J. Brownlee View All Years

S.J. BROWNLEE

S.J. Brownlee was born on November 14, 1926 in Mallard, Iowa, to O.J. and Flossie Brownlee. He passed away on September 9, 2009, at the age of 82. He is survived by his daughter, Vicki Wittgraf; his sons, Craig and Mark; grandchildren, Jason, John, George, Kate, Sam, Jack, and Jordan; and by his great-grandson, Noah.

Brownlee spent the first eight years of his life in Mallard, where his father operated a farm implement business. His family then moved to Emmetsburg, where they eventually sold their farm implement business and started a farming operation. He graduated from Emmetsburg High School in 1944 and attended the University of Iowa. His time at the University of Iowa was interrupted by service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Economics.

He married Sherry Andersen of Omaha, Nebraska in 1948. He attended the University Of Iowa College Of Law for two years, earning academic honors, before returning home to Emmetsburg to help his ailing father in the expanding farm operation.

His business pursuits included Brownlee Management, a farm management company for non-operating farm owners. In 1964 he became very active in the banking industry and went on to join the Board of Directors of the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank in Emmetsburg, serving on the board until his death. He also served many years on the board of First Federal Savings and Loan, Iowa-Des Moines National Bank, and the State Banking Board for the State of Iowa. In the late 1960s he became owner of Emmetsburg Publishing and Newspaper, which he later sold.

In addition to his professional interests, Brownlee was also very involved in education, serving as President of the Emmetsburg Board of Education. He was appointed to the Iowa Board of Regents, serving from 1973-1985, the last four years as president. His long-time service and support earned him many awards including, the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Finkbine Medallion.

Brownlee was active in his community and was a founding member of the Palo Alto Hospital Foundation Board, served on the board of the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg, and was a long-time member and past Commodore of the Okoboji Yacht Club.

Brownlee was a Palo Alto County Republican. He served in the Iowa Senate from 1970-1972, during the 63rd and 64th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable S.J. Brownlee, 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.

MERLIN BARTZ

DAVID JOHNSON

JOHN P. KIBBIE

Committee