G.B. 'Buzz' Brown, G.B. 'Buzz' Brown

CEDAR RAPIDS - G.B. “Buzz” Brown, 79, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Oct. 14, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. A celebration of life service will be held Monday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. at the Church on Northland (First Baptist Church-Church of the Brethren), 5200 Northland Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

Buzz was born Feb. 25, 1931, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Hobart B. Brown and Dorothy Irene Iblings. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1948 and from Iowa State Teachers College in 1952. He later earned a master's degree from Illinois State University. He married Arletta Mae Ballantine on June 14, 1952. Buzz taught in Onawa, Iowa, from 1952-1956. He taught at Wilson High School in 1956, then moved to Jefferson High School to teach driver education in 1957. The Browns operated Morgan Creek Orchard from 1975 to 1986 on the family's' 40-acre farm.

Buzz retired from teaching in 1986, was an insurance agent for Reserve National Insurance Co. for 10 years and delivered motor homes for Morgan Driveaway for four years.

Buzz has been a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society since 1952. With the Cedar Rapids Harmony Hawks Chorus, he won third place at International Contest in 1959 and Barbershopper of the Year in 1963. In 2006 and 2007, Buzz sang with New Tradition Chorus in Northbrook, Ill., and earned fourth and fifth place medals at International Contest. Aside from music, Buzz enjoyed telling jokes and stories, wood working and restoring tractors.

Buzz has been a member of First Baptist Church-Church of the Brethren of Cedar Rapids since 1956. He sang in the choir and served in many leadership positions.

Buzz was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Dean; his stepmother; and his wife, Arletta.

Buzz married Barbara J. Weber on Jan. 19, 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara J. Weber of Cedar Rapids; a sister, Bonnie (Clayton) Thomas of Tucson, Ariz.; a son, David (Amy) Brown of Providence, R.I.; a daughter, Diane (Steve) Rarick of Grayslake, Ill.; a son, Duane (Claudia) Brown of Cedar Rapids; a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Brown of Cedar Rapids; and eight grandchildren, Arlina Brown of West Des Moines, Jonathan, Nathan and Katie Rarick of Grayslake, Ill., Calder and Flannery Brown of Providence, Emily Brown of Cedar Rapid, and Joshua (Amanda) Nettesheim, and their daughter, Eve of Marshalltown. Barbara's family includes a sister, Jo (Jim) Wasta of Cedar Rapids; her daughter, Nancy (John) Hite of Warrenville, Ill., and their daughter, Natalie; and a son, Michael Weber of St. Charles, Ill.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

Instead of flowers, memorial gifts in Buzz's name may be sent to The Church on Northland (First Baptist Church - Church of the Brethren), 5200 Northland Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; or to the Cedar Rapids Harmony Hawks Chorus, 2831 64th St., Shellsburg, IA 52332.