Franklin D. Brown Jr.

Franklin D. Brown Jr., 83, passed away peacefully on Nov. 10, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., on Feb. 20, 1934, to Helen (Whorton) and Franklin Brown Sr.

Franklin was a member of the John Birch Society, the nut growers association the Packard Club and the UAW Union where he served as chaplain. He was a charter member of the Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church chairman of FIJA along with being a member of the Minutemen. Franklin was very athletic and participated in many sports. He was a champion race walker and taught race walking to many. Franklin loved to travel and go on cruises. In 1989, Franklin retired from John Deere after 30 years where he was an inspector.

Franklin is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nelda; five 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 (Mary Beth) Shelley, Victoria Shelley and Jesse Brown; stepchildren, Steven, Mathew, Lawton, Christanne, Benjamin, Michael and Charity Middleton, Stacy (Brandon) Stahl, Lindsay (William) Ake; numerous great-grandchildren; brother, Tom (Lynn) Brown; half-sister, Rose Linda; along with host of beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and granddaughter, Amanda Brown.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. at Hamilton’s Funeral Home at 121 Northwest 60th Avenue, in Des Moines, Iowa.