Richard H. Brown

Richard passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m., Thursday, April 17 at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset, where the family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until service time. The committal will be private at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport, Box 188, De Soto, IA 50069 (www.aheinz57.com). Richard was born March 7, 1929 in Des Moines, the son of Clarence and Elvera (Walstrom) Brown. He graduated from East High School in Des Moines in the class of 1947 and went on to attend Drake University for two years. His marriage to Mary Jane Armstrong took place on November 25, 1950 and the couple shared 57 loving years together before Mary passed away in 2007. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and worked as a Printing Plant Manager during his 43 and half year career with Commercial Printing of Des Moines, retiring in 1992. Richard was also a member of the Printer’s Union. He was also a member of the South Town Saddle Club where he, Mary and their family enjoyed riding and showing horses regularly over the years. Richard and Mary also enjoyed square dancing and traveling. He also enjoyed golf, bird watching and since 1960 spending countless weekends with his family at their cottage on Clear Lake. All this said, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved nothing more than spending time with his family. He is survived by his two daughters, Pamela VanZuuk (Dennis) and Marci Atkinson (Charlie) both of Des Moines; a son, Dennis Brown (Susie) of Melrose; nine grandchildren, Dena VanZuuk, Robin Hink (Jeff), Angela Brown, Dennis Brown, Corey Brown, Mollie Brown, Nicky McNeeley, Charlette Lawrence (Cody) & Dustin Atkinson and sixteen great grandchildren, Ashlee & Jeffrey McVey, Breanne & Brandon Young, Austin & Hailee Jane McNeeley, Taylor, Emily, Jacob & Ryan Hink, Ethan Lawrence, Dylan, Christian, Skylor & Corena Atkinson, and Devenny Brown. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary and two sisters, Mary and Norma.