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Brown, William R.
William R. Brown, 85, died after a sudden illness on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Marengo Memorial Hospital in Marengo. Funeral services will be held at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church near Williamsburg at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, with Pastor Eric Nygren officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be in Community Cemetery, west of Millersburg. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English.
William Robert “Bill” Brown was born April 19, 1926, near Ladora, Iowa, a son of John and Alma (Begunck) Brown. He attended country school and Ladora High School. He farmed with his father and brother until serving his country in the Army during the Korean conflict. While in Korea he was captured and was a prisoner of the North Korean and Chinese Communists for 27 months. He was released in a prisoner exchange and returned home in August 1953. Bill was united in marriage to Marlys L. Merck on June 25, 1954, at the Methodist Church in Millersburg. He farmed west of Millersburg until moving to North English in August 2003.
Bill was a member of the Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church and served as a deacon and trustee. He had served on the Iowa County Cattlemen's Board and volunteered at the Iowa City VA Health Care System.
Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, visiting with family and friends and going to the EV Malt Shop.
He is survived by his wife, Marlys of North English; daughters, Christine (Kevin) Koehn of North English and Donna (Mick) Gorsch of Millersburg; seven grandchildren, Shara (Scott) Axmear, Caleb (Erin) Koehn, Maria (Mark) Wagner, Jeremy Koehn, Derek (Adrienne) Gorsch, Robby Gorsch and Amelia Koehn; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Kathryn Brown and Margery (Ed) McAdam, both of Victor; and a brother, Tom (Janet) Brown of Robins.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Bruce William Brown.
A memorial fund has been established for The Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church or the North English QRS.
Messages and tributes may be left at www.powell
funeralhomes.com under obituaries.
Published Jan. 19, 2012, in The Gazette
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