ROBERT BROWN

Robert Warren Brown passed away Saturday evening, November 7, 2015 at St. Elizabeth Hospital where the caring medical staff had supported him for the past several weeks. Bob was born May 21, 1929 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He had a deep love and interest in his Danish heritage. His parents, Thomas and Ellen Brown, were the center of his young years, and they made sure he attended Dane school, ate his rolla pulsa and rodkaal, and respected all things red and white. Along with his two sisters, his parents preceded him in death. As a child, one of the activities he loved the most was swimming in the Cedar Falls pool. He let that interest grow to bigger things, ending a career at Iowa State University as an AAU champion. In 1951 he married Susan Elizabeth Taylor in Waterloo, Iowa. After moving to Neenah they had five children: Melinda (Rich Inman); Rebecca (Dale Nienow); Daniel (Nancy Jensen-Brown); Sarah (Dr. Fredric Hildebrand) and Thomas (Jane Ware Brown). Nine beautiful and handsome grandchildren were the source of joy and laughter, as were two great-grandchildren: Matt, Andrew and Thomas Nienow; Taylor Storch and Lauren Wallace; Henry and Charlie Hildebrand; Susan and Katie Brown; and River and Paikea Nienow. Bob was a founding partner of Great Northern Corporation in 1962, along with friends and partners J. James Davis and John V. Maring. He continued to be a member of the Board of Directors and felt he gained incredible friendships over those years with GNC employees and close friends whom he met as customers. Bob not only loved Wisconsin and the beauty of the northwoods, but found Neenah a most special place to live. He and his family attended Our Savior's Lutheran Church where his grandfather had been pastor and later joined his grandchildren at First Presbyterian Church. Bob shared time and interest with the YMCA and Theda Clark Hospital and always responded to the needs of other organizations. Family services will be held at a later date.