Brown, Joe L.

BROWN, BREDESON, PIERCE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/30/2009 at 11:07:59

JOE L. BROWN SERVICES HELD

Joe L. Brown, 58, of 602 High St., Grinnell, died of cancer Sunday, June 15, at his home.

Funeral services were conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert C. Smith, pastor of the Grinnell First Baptist Church, officiating. Organist was Alice Renaud.

Pallbearers were Jerry Carter, Jack Collum, Bill Gilbreaith, Larry Manning, Jerry McCurry, Allan Moyer, Paul Peiffer and Paul Stoppels. Honorary bearers were Gene Carlson, Jim Collum, LaVaughn Cram, Phil Gibbons and Wayne Icenbice.

Burial was in Rock Creek Cemetery, with graveside rites conducted by the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Masonic services were at 7 p.m. Tuesday, conducted by members of Hermon Masonic Lodge.

Memorials in Mr. Brown's name may be left at the Smith Funeral Home.

The son of Perry M. and Josie M. Bredeson Brown, he was born on Aug. 30, 1927, at Freeport, Ill. He and his family moved to Macomb, Miss., and later to Memphis, Tenn., where he attended school. He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad as a telegrapher before serving as a radioman in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following his discharge from the Navy, he came to Grinnell as station agent for the Rock Island Railroad for 23 years.

He was married to Bernadine A. Pierce at Rock Island, Ill., on June 5, 1950. The couple continued to live in Grinnell. After the Rock Island Railroad ceased operations, Mr. Brown worked in the Building and Grounds Department at Grinnell College and as a refrigeration repairman with Parish and Cram Refrigeration, a position he held until last August.

He was active in the Grinnell Baseball Association and coached Little League. He was also active in Scouting and the Masonic Lodge, serving as district lecturer, past master of Hermon Lodge and past patron of Beulah Chapter No. 47 of the Order of Eastern Star.

He is survived by his wife, Bernie; three sons, Michael of Rock Springs, Wyo., Patrick of Grundy Center and James of Grinnell; 10 grandchildren; his father, Perry M. Brown of Grundy Center; and one brother, Robert of Hammond, La. He was preceded in death by his mother.