Robert "Bob" Brown

Robert “Bob” Brown, 75, lifelong resident of Laurel, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Services for Bob will take place on Monday, May 8 at 2:00 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. He will be laid to rest at Graceland Cemetery. Friends and family are also invited to a visitation on Sunday, May 7 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. The family encourages all attendees to dress casually in Iowa State or your favorite sports’ attire. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Born January 24, 1948 in Marshalltown, Iowa, he was the son of Vernon and Annabel (Creager) Brown. Growing up on the farm, he was a member of Laurel Live Wires 4H club. He began school at Laurel Elementary and graduated from SEMCO High School in Gilman in 1966. Bob went on to obtain his certification in Farm Operations from Iowa State University, earned an Iowa Master Pork Producer certificate and honorably served his country in the United States Army Reserve.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Sue Ann Merritt on December 2, 1967 at Gilman Community Church. They moved to the homeplace where Bob grew up to raise their two children and where they still resided today. A lifelong farmer, he joined his dad in the fields as well as raising livestock. His passion was raising pigs and he was responsible for starting the first show-pig sale in Iowa. He was still lining up show pigs for the next generation of kids until his passing.

Bob’s other passion was food. What began as a barbeque competition with his son in 2006 led to a full-blown catering business in 2013. He was still always trying to help his son cook however he could and quickly became the official taste-tester and the chief critic. Bob was an avid Iowa State Cyclones fan. He loved his farm, his pigs, his corgi and his Dodge pickup. But more than anything else, he adored his wife, his kids and his grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 55 years, Sue; his children: Karee (Matthew) Hodge of Eldridge, IA and Kyle (Jamie) Brown of Des Moines, IA; his three grandchildren: Grant Matthew Hodge, Anna Beverly Hodge and Bradee Ann Brown and his brother, Richard (Corrine) Brown of Laurel, IA.

In eternal life, he is reunited with his parents, Vernon and Annabel Brown.