Brown, John Joseph

John Joseph Brown, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died at Northbrook Care Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. Private family services were held. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Virginia; daughters, Barbara (Ronald) Gardner and Pat (Jim) Healy, both of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Amy (Ben) Jordan and Brian (Erin) Gardner, both of Cedar Rapids; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five sisters.

John was born April 1, 1923, in Ladora, Iowa, to Joseph and Pearl Brown. He enlisted in the United States Navy after graduation and was attached to the United States Marines as a corpsman. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, seeing action at Tinian, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. John was proud to have accompanied other World War II vets on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in June 2012.

John married Virginia Booth on Sept. 1, 1948, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. He enjoyed a long career as a new car salesman at Allen Motor Co., where he retired in 1985.

John was a member of the VFW and American Legion.

He had a great love of animals, especially dogs and horses. He served as both the commander and treasurer of the El Kahir Shrine Arabian Horse Troop and enjoyed participating in the parades. John loved the Green Bay Packers and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

John will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Northbrook Care Center, the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, the many other physicians that gave him great care, and special friends, Rose and Sue.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Cedar Rapids Parkinson's Foundation at Box 9412, Cedar Rapids, IA 52409.

Online condolences may be directed to www.cedarmemorial.com.

Published Dec. 7, 2013 in The Gazette