Brown, Horace "Van" 1934-2012

BROWN, VANLOON, CARPENTER, CESTREICH, DAHM, ANDERSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/23/2021 at 10:27:52

Horace "Van" Brown
SEPTEMBER 4, 1934 – FEBRUARY 3, 2012
HORACE VAN BROWN WDM/Cumming, IA

Van Brown, 77, left this life on February 3, 2012. He was born Sept 4, l934 in Clarinda IA to Myrtle (VanLoon) and Horace Brown. Van graduated from Des Moines Tech High School, class of ‘53. After graduation, he worked as a railroad telegraph/teletype operator in Colorado, where he met his future wife, Karen Carpenter. Following his military service in Germany, they married in Denver on May 29, l958. After 15 years with Dial Financial, managing loan offices in Denver, Topeka, Omaha and Kansas City, they returned to Des Moines. In 1973, Van opened Plaza Printers in Urbandale, retiring in 1995.

In retirement, Van and Karen took up woodworking. They also enjoyed camping, fishing and travelling the world, making new friends everywhere. Above all, they took pleasure in 54 years of love, laughter and their family.

Van is survived by his wife, Karen; brother, James (Tess) Brown, Calabasas CA; four children, Greg (Wendy) Brown, Des Moines, Michael (Cyndi) Brown, Windsor Heights, Joni (Dean) Oestreich, Ankeny and Lisa Brown, West Des Moines; six grandchildren, Cory (Lindsey) Brown, Urbandale, Gina Brown, Des Moines, Trenton Dahm, Macon GA, Michael Dahm, Ames, Juston Dahm, Des Moines and Clayton Dahm, Waukee; step granddaughter, Elizabeth Anderson, Des Moines; three great-grandchildren; and many dear friends and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Van was a member of Izaak Walton, The Des Moines Woodworkers Assn., and actively supported Youth Homes of MidAmerica, and the Young Women’s Resource Center. Van loved talking to people and will be remembered by family and friends for his sense of humor and his keen interest in others.

The family wishes to express appreciation for the wonderful care he received at Walnut Ridge, Arbor Springs and from Hospice of Central Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Youth Homes of Mid America in Johnston (www.YHMA.org), and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.TheAFTD.org).

The family will be present to receive friends at McLarens Resthaven Chapel from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, 2012. A private service, with inurnment at Resthaven, will be held at a later date. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 05 Feb 2012.