Franklin Brown

Franklin D. Brown Jr., 83, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2017 at Mercy Hospice-Johnston. He was born in St. Louis, MO on February 20, 1934, to Helen (Whorton) and Franklin Brown Sr.

Franklin was a Korean War Vet. He was a member of the John Birch Society, Nut Growers Association and the Packard Club and the UAW Union where he served as Chaplin. Franklin was a charter member of the Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church, chairman of FIJA, along with being a member of the Minute Men. He was very athletic and participated in many sports. He was a champion Race Walker and taught Race Walking to many. Franklin was inducted into the Senior Olympic Hall of Fame for Race Walking. He loved to travel and go on cruises.

Franklin retired from John Deere as an inspector after 30 years.

Franklin is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nelda; children, Bonni (Seth) Essenfeld, Randy (Colleen) Brown, Ted Brown, Lydia (David Baker) Brown and Dallas (Heather) Brown; grandchildren, Sheri (Sean) Burke, Brandon (Mashair) Evans, Jason (Katheryn) Brown, Jessica Brown, Sara Brown, Malibu Brown, Isaac Brown, Levi Brown, Jacob (Meribeth) Shelley, Victoria Shelley and Jesse Brown; numerous great grandchildren, several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; brother, Tom (Lynn) Brown and half-sister Rose Linda, along with a host of beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Amanda Brown.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 17, 2017 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines.

Memorial contributions may be directed to his wife Nelda.

Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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