Obit: Brown, Edward R. (1921 – 2014)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Brown, Hegy, Smith, Erfert, Staab, Rizinger, Rufener

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, Wis.) 13 Aug 2014

Brown, Edward R. (19 JUN 1921 – 10 AUG 2014)

Edward R. "Ed" Brown, 93, Colby, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Aug. 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. Rev. Daniel Hackel will officiate. Interment will be held at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Loyal. Family and friends are welcome from 4-8 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 15, at the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home in Colby, with a rosary service at 4:30 p.m., and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday. Military honors will be provided by the Colby VFW Post #2227.

Ed was born on June 19, 1921, in Loyal, the son of Bert and Frances (nee Hegy) Brown. He graduated from Loyal High School. He served in the Navy during World War II and worked on sea planes as a flight engineer. Ed married Virginia Smith on June 14, 1947, at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Loyal. They shared more than 67 years together in marriage. Ed worked at PCA in Colby driving semi-trucks until retiring at the age of 65 and was a member of the Million Mile Safety Club. He missed driving and continued working at Galvin International in Abbotsford shuttling trucks for the next 17 years. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Colby, the Knights of Columbus, and the Colby VFW #2227, and was a lifetime member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association). He and his son, Tom, completed construction of a Pientenpol Air Camper in 1982. Tom is still flying the plane today. He also enjoyed woodworking, especially making propeller clocks, which each of his children have hanging on their walls today. In his children's eyes, there was nothing he couldn't build or fix.

Edward is survived by his wife, "Ginny," of Colby; 10 children, Steven (Karen) Brown, Unity, Thomas Brown, Slinger, Larry Brown, Wausau, Donna Brown, St. Paul, Minn., Patrick (Jodi) Brown, West Bend, Jeffrey (Cheryl) Brown, St. Cloud, Minn., Mary (David) Erfert, Houston, Texas, Carol (John) Staab, Dorchester, Barbara (Thomas) Ritzinger, Rice Lake, and Rob Brown, Marshfield; 16 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandsons; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son, David; his sister, Ruth Rufener; his brother, Robert Brown; a great-grandson, Zayne; and a daughter-in-law, Patty Brown.

In lieu of flowers and plants, a memorial fund will be established in Edward's name.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com.