Obit: Brownell, Arthur Franklin Jr. (1932 - 2014)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Brownell, Feffer, Matl, Thurk

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 7/15/2014

Brownell, Arthur "Art" Franklin Jr. (9 JAN 1932 - 2 JUL 2014)

Arthur "Art" Franklin Brownell Jr. died on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Gundersen Health System, La Crosse. Arthur was born on January 9, 1932 in Chicago, Ill., to Signe and Arthur Brownell Sr.

Art was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving during the Korean War on an aircraft carrier as well as in the Panama Canal Zone. Following his service, he returned home to Illinois and attended school to become a teacher. It was during this time that he and Mary Ann Feffer met through her brother, Dave, and eventually married on August 4, 1956.

Following his graduation from Northern Illinois University, Art began teaching at a high school in Arlington Heights, Ill. His dream, however, was to teach in a small college in Wisconsin. In 1965 he moved his family, which by then had grown to include four children, to La Crosse to fulfill his dream as a math teacher at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Art retired from this position in 1995.

Art loved sports and participated at all levels throughout his life. He spent many hours as a statistician for football and basketball in addition to coaching baseball at UW-La Crosse. His passion extended to the field where he umpired and refereed. Off the field, he applied his talented hand to the calligraphy and lettering used on many of the award certificates for the college athletes and their records.

Art was an avid gardener, growing much of the food that fed his wife and six children. Summers were divided between his gardening, house painting, a milk route and spending time at "the cabin" in Perkinstown. The cabin was built by Art's parents and became a beloved retreat. Following his parents' death in 1970, Art and his family spent summers at the cabin. He is remembered for his strong work ethic and how he spent hours tending his huge garden and cutting/splitting wood. Art's family and friends often were called to assist in this work, which at times seemed unrelenting. In spite of this, Art was always gracious and quick to reward those who assisted.

Art always had a twinkle in his eye and a ready smile. No matter where you crossed paths with him, you felt his passion for life immediately. Maybe it was during his days in the family business, the "Cary Dairy," the many sports he enjoyed, Boy Scouts, or the bags of fresh produce he left on your back step. Art was a man who was as comfortable in his bib overalls as he was in his crisp dress shirt and bow tie. He touched many lives and fulfilled his dreams.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann of La Crosse; son, Kurt Brownell of Sparta, daughter, Kim (Gary) Thurk, son, Kris (Susan) Brownell, and son, Kraig (Kevin) Brownell, all of La Crosse, daughter, Katie (Paul) Matl of Onalaska, and son, Kyle (Lia) Brownell of Schofield; and 15 grandchildren.

He is also survived by his brother, Robert (Phyllis) Brownell of McHenry, Ill., and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Art was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 18 at Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., La Crosse, and 9 a.m. before services at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on July 19 at Blessed Sacrament Church in La Crosse at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery at 2 p.m.