Charles D. Brown

Charles D. Brown, 86, of Marshalltown, died Friday evening, April 1, at the MMSC. His death came peacefully at 7:54 p.m. with loving family at his side.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 6th at the Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Gregg Davison officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery with full military honors by his friends and comrades of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #839. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.Born on May 21, 1924, in Mitchell, South Dakota, he was the son of George Wesley and Lillie Victoria (Olson) Brown. He attended school at the Beulah #3 Country Grade School and later graduated from the Alexandria, SD High School in 1942 before attending Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota. Charles served our country honorably in the United States Army in the 51st Field Hospital serving as Tec 4 Sergeant from his enlistment on May 21, 1943 until his honorable discharge on December 16, 1945. He landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day+2 and was in five battle campaigns.On May 16, 1948, he was united in marriage to Helen Louise Alsene in Mitchell, South Dakota. Charles worked for many years in South Dakota and Iowa selling reference books to schools, public libraries and universities for Grolier Publishing. He retired in May of 1989.Charles was passionate about his military career and the veterans of the United States. He was an active and faithful Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars #839, life member of the AMVETS Post #100, member of American Legion Post #46 and the Eugene E. Weatherly Post #1, Legion of Guardsman all in Marshalltown. Now, he currently is member of the AMVETS in Cedar Falls along with his son-in-law. He was also a faithful 57 year member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshalltown including the activities of chair of Church Council, Sunday School Supt. and teacher. In the VFW, he served as past commander 1974-75 and 1975-76, past service officer for 6 years, building chairman 1972-73, Americanism Chair in 1984, past trustee, past assistant quartermaster, building dedication chairman on March 29, 1987, past chaplain for 6 years, member of the Iowa State Heroism Committee, All-State Commander in 1975-76, Assistant Adjutant, Chairman of the Voice of Democracy for 20 years, National Aide-de-camp to Commander-in-Chief John J. Stang in 1974 and 1975, co-chair of the Posts Membership Committee, and had served as quartermaster for 5 years at the Mitchell, SD Post #2750. He also was involved in the POW/MIA VFW Department of Iowa in 1976. He marked his 60 year of membership in the VFW on August 15, 2007.Mr. Brown served as volunteer for 5 weeks for the Battle of Normandy Foundation in Caen, France at the information kiosk registering veterans for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. He represented the Iowa POW/MIA in 1970 which involved a trip to Paris, France, Stockholm, Sweden and Geneva, Switzerland as a member of Iowans Care also with 10 others. Left to cherish his memory are Gladys (Beasley), his loving wife whom he married on July 1, 1995, his dear children: Robert C. Brown of Lynchburg, VA, Richard C. Brown of Accokeek, Maryland, Mary L. Blankenship of Dallas, TX and Carol J. (Steve) Heth of Cedar Falls, step-daughter Linda S. (Raymond) Parks of Garwin, grandchildren: Amber D. (Roy) Hardy, Erik J.G. Brown, Elizabeth P. Brown, Stephanie L. (George) Prescott, Jessica L. Heth and Nicholas A. Heth; step-grandson- Scott R. Smith, great-grandchildren: Preston T. Hardy, Ryan C. Hardy, Reese S. Prescott and Kailyn M. Chamblee, step-great-grandchildren: Abigale M. Smith, Joseph R. Smith, Daniel J. Smith and Klowie Ann Smith as well as his brother-in-law Frederick Alsene of Dallas and many friends.In death, Charles rejoined his beloved first wife Helen who died on March 9, 1992 and his parents.