Thomas “Gene” Brown age 74, of Rippey died on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at his home in Rippey. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 4, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Carris Family Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation will be Friday, February 3, 2012 from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Carris Family Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry at a later date. Memorials may be given to family and may be left at the Funeral Home.
Thomas Eugene Brown was born on March 20, 1937 at Perry, IA to Thomas Nile and Bertha Evelyn (Glenn) Brown. He graduated from Perry High School in 1954. Following graduation he served in the United States Air Force. He was united in marriage to Joanne Kay Conner Brown on November 20, 1959 at Perry. Gene worked for Firestone Tire in Des Moines from June 17, 1959 until he retired October 01, 1994.
Gene was a member of the First Christian Church in Perry. He enjoyed fishing, camping, NASCAR racing and he especially enjoyed spending time with his family. After he retired from Firestone he helped Jo with her ceramics by pouring molds for her.
Gene enjoyed spending his summers at Lake of the Woods in MN and in the winter he came back to his home in Rippey.
Gene was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amber Lynn and his parents, Thomas and Bertha Brown and a sister, Evelyn Itchner.
Survivors include his wife, Joanne Brown, Rippey, IA, 2 sons, Doug (Kim) Brown of Baudette, MN, and Bob (Roxanne) Brown, Rippey, IA, grandchildren, Shawn and Jon Allen, Rippey, IA, Tanner Brown (Jessica Allen), Rippey, IA, and Shannon and Derrick Olson, Badger, MN, great grandchildren, Maddy and Maycee Olson, Badger, MN and Bay Leigh Luek, Baudette, MN.