Robert Craig Brown

BURNS

Posted By: michael (email)
Date: 11/3/2003 at 09:19:16

Robert Craig Brown, “Brownie” 74 of Coralville died after a few months illness suffering from cancer at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City on Friday, October 31, 2003.

Robert was born February 22, 1929 the son of Virgil A. and Lucille (Burns) Brown in Ottumwa, Iowa at the Community Hospital. He was raised in Batavia, Iowa. He attended Batavia Community School and graduated in May 1946. On October 16, 1949 he married Margaret E. Rod of Roland, Iowa. Robert was hired on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as a Telegraph Operator where he served for 40 years as Agent of local depots advancing to Supervisory Agent and on to Trainmaster. He took his retirement in April, 1984 from the Burlington Northern Railroad in Creston, Iowa.

After his retirement, he and his wife moved to Plano, Texas to be near their daughter Susan and her family, also escaping the cold north weather. He worked there in the book publishing business until moving back to Iowa in 1997. Since then he has set up an office in his home in Coralville and has written, published and marketed over 40 books on railroad history and various other subjects. He is known nation-wide by railroad buffs for his knowledge and accuracy. Robert was a Mason, he also volunteered for the Boy Scouts. He was an awesome story teller and never knew a stranger.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret of Coralville, Iowa; his son, Mark Robert Brown of North Liberty, Iowa; his two daughters, Debra Louise Brown of Brookings, Oregon, Susan Ethel Richenberger and her husband Russell of McKinney, Texas; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Paige Brown, Rebecca Diane Kennedy, Sarah Renae Christensen, Trevor Aaron Kennedy, Russell Matthew Richenberger, Toby Jerrett Richenberger and Haley Eileen Richenberger; and also by one great granddaughter, Mikayla Breanne Christensen.

His parents and two brothers, Jack and Gary Paul all preceded him in death.