Charlie Brown - LHS Class of 1951

Charles “Charlie” Sydney Brown, 76, was born in Leavenworth, Oct. 13, 1934, to Lucy Elizabeth “Betty” Bromell Brown and Ralph C. Brown, and died Feb. 11, 2011,at his home in rural Leavenworth.

He married Regina Mary “Jean Marie” Theis Brown, on June 29, 1957, at Corpus Christi Church, Mooney Creek; she survives.   

Charlie began school at an early age at Bell School in rural Leavenworth. In 1951, he graduated from Leavenworth Senior High School, where he was a member of the ROTC Leavenworth Unit for two years. Charlie served in the Army of the United States in the infantry as a mechanic and chauffeur for two years of active duty, two years of active reserve and because of the Cuban Missile Crisis, two years of active stand-by and was honorably discharged in 1963. He was a mechanic at various Leavenworth new car dealerships, he was the first operator of the Lansing Coop Service Station and was the operator of other service stations in Leavenworth. He worked at several used car dealerships in Leavenworth, eventually owning his own, Charlie Brown Motors. He was last employed as owner/operator of his gas station, retiring in 1986.
Charlie was a member of Bell 4-H Club; it was through 4-H he met Jean Marie. In retirement, he enjoyed growing and selling produce and was a Master Gardener. He was always a farmer at heart and loved to work outdoors. Charlie enjoyed family occasions to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and his granddaughters’ accomplishments. He also liked driving his tractor, listening to country music, and watching old westerns.
Always very curious and mechanically talented, from a young age Charlie took objects apart and put them back together again. He was an honest, kind and generous person who always tried to help those in need. He gave away his time and mechanical abilities, the products he sold, or whatever would best help the situation. Charlie always took everything in stride, even when he struggled with illness, approaching the tasks of life with determination. He smiled with his whole face and it was infectious.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Jean Marie; daughter, Linda K. and son-in-law Kevin L. Jones; twin granddaughters, Kyra and Isla; daughter Melissa and son-in-law Brian Bitter; granddaughter, Julie; sister, Joanne Ochs (LHS Class of 1951); cousin, Jerry Moschini (LHS Class of 1957); God-daughter and niece, Teresa Lee; and many sisters-and-brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces-and-nephews, as well as his beloved cat Duke.
Charlie was raised by his mother and his grandparents, Mary Caroline Chapin Bromell and Sydney George Bromell, Sr., who preceded him. His father, his aunts, Jayne Esther Bromell and Caroline Olivia Bromell Moschini, uncles, Charles Merlyn Bromell and Sydney George Bromell, Jr. (LHS Class of 1937), brothers-in-law, Vernon R. Ochs (LHS Class of 1951) and Richard C. Theis, and sister-in-law, Carol Theis also preceded him.
Charlie’s family offers special thanks to his therapists Marci and Stephanie at Sweet Life and Tara at Cushing.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. with the rosary prayed at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.15, 2011, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home, 4701 10th Ave., Leavenworth. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb.16 at Immaculate Conception Church, 711 N. 5th Leavenworth.  Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Lansing. The family suggests memorials to the Immaculate Conception Church renovation project, Catholic Community Hospice, The Master Gardeners, or a charity of the donor’s choice.