William Brown

BROWN, CRAWFORD, CISLAGHI, HOLT, HENRY, PACK, RYAN, DRAKE

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/26/2009 at 12:24:31

William Brown, 89, died March 12, 2007 at his home after a long illness. Lensing Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting with the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa or Oaknoll Retirement Residence.

Mr. Brown was born on January 17, 1918 in Montreal, Canada, the son of Charles and Annie (Crawford) Brown. He graduated from Braintree High School in 1936, the Lowell Institute M.I.T. in 1938 and the University Of Michigan Naval Architecture and Marine School of Engineering in 1942. On September 26, 1942, Mr. Brown married Madeline Cislaghi in Seabrook, NH.

Mr. Brown served in the Merchant Marine during World War II. In his career as an engineer, he worked for Bethlehem Steel, Fore River Yard, Quincy, MA; Mica Insulator, Schnectady, NY; FMC at Lawrence, KS and Nitro, WV; Durametallic Corporation of Kalamazoo, MI working in West Virginia and Puerto Rico.

After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Brown moved to Little River, SC where he served as commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Browns moved to Iowa in 2000. Mr. Brown was a proud member of the African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa. He loved sailing and boating.

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 64 years, Madeline, of Iowa City; four sons William (Carol) of Mansfield, OH; Peter (Ginger) also of Mansfield; Philip (Michele) of Fairmont, WV; Thomas (Cynthia) of Ashland, OH; three daughters Gretchen Holt and her husband Lyell Henry of Iowa City; Deborah (Tom) Pack of Newport News, VA and Barbara Ryan of Plantation, FL; one brother Dr. Melvin (Peggy) Brown of Melbourne, FL; 18 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and Prince George, a very good dog. Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Marguerite Drake and one brother Charles, Jr.