Melvin "Mel" Jennings Brown (1915-2009)

BROWN, ROE, SHELDAHL, REINERTSON, PETERSON, WALLACE, BLANSHAN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 4/28/2009 at 18:33:41

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, February 11, 2009.

Melvin "Mel" Jennings Brown, 93, of Story City passed away Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009 at Bethany Manor in Story City. A memorial service was held Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Gilbert Lutheran Church. Burial was at Palestine Cemetery, rural Huxley, Iowa. There was a visitation at the church one hour prior the memorial service.

Mel Brown was born August 6, 1915 to Milford and Jennie (Roe) Brown in rural Slater, Iowa. Mel was drafted into the United States Navy in 1945 and was married to Esther Sheldahl. He resided near Huxley and then the Story City area for the last 65 years. He was a farmer and an insurance agent for Farm Bureau. He was also employed by Woodland Farms. Mel was later married to Ola Reinertson.

Mel was a board member of the Heart of Iowa Coop in Story City and a member of Gilbert Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife Ola of Story City; his daughter, Janet Peterson of Story City; his son, Ron and his wife Ardith Brown of Ankeny, Iowa; two brothers, Don Brown of Des Moines, and Phil Brown of Des Moines, one sister, Shirley Wallace of Boone, Iowa; nine grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Linda Blanshan; four sisters, Ingrid, Wilma, Betty, and Mae; one brother, Vernon Brown; and his first wife, Esther.

Memorial may he designated to Bethany Manor.