Frederick Eugene Brown

Frederick Eugene "Gene" Brown, 88, of Mount Vernon, died Tuesday October 19, 2004 in Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids from complications of surgery. Services will be held at 10: 30 a.m., Saturday in the Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, rural Mount Vernon, by the Reverend Karen Downey Beals. The family will greet friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday in the Mount Vernon Chapel of Morgan Funeral and Cremation Choices, where Masonic services begin at 7:30 p.m. Graveside services will begin at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Harlington Cemetery in Waverly, Iowa with military rites. Gene is survived by his wife Margaret, a son David (Fumiko) of Aurora, Colorado; two daughters: Julie (Don) Durst of Denver, Colorado, and Kathy (John) Beiting of Cincinnati, Ohio; a sister Mildred Noll of Pocahontas; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and one great-great grandson. He is also survived by: two stepsons: Terry (Karen) Evans of Springville, David (Susan) Fisher of Mount Vernon, and their families. Preceding Gene in death is a sister Ruth Merchant, a brother Frank, and his first wife Eleanor. Gene was born February 25, 1916, at Martelle, Iowa, the son of John F. and Carrie Reed Brown. He married Eleanor Marolf, June 20, 1937. She died August 10, 1964. He graduated from Martelle High School in 1932 and attended Lenox College in Hopkinton for two years, and Cedar Rapids Business College for one year. Gene served in the Army during World War II. He was advertising manager for the Waverly newspapers for many years before his ordination in 1970 as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. He served churches in Clarksville and Sioux Rapids, Iowa and the Twin Palms Retirement Community in McAllen, Texas. Gene married Margaret Port Evans Fisher August 17, 1980 at Linn Grove Presbyterian Church. Gene was a fifty-year member of the Masonic Lodge, serving as Past Grand Chaplain of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Iowa from 1979 - 1980. Gene was a member of the Anamosa Lodge #46, Enterprise Lodge #332 of Sioux Rapids, and the Terrell Lodge #116 of Waverly. He was a member of the Lion's Club and American Legion Post #176, in Waverly for many years. Gene was a member of the Waverly United Methodist Church, and in later years the Linn Grove Presbyterian Church. Gene will be remembered best for his love of his family and friends. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials in Gene's honor may be sent to the Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, c/o Sandi Hanna, 2043 Linn Grove Road, Mount Vernon, IA 52314. Please note the change of time for the graveside service in Waverly.