Obituary for Ronald K. "Ron" Brown
Ronald (“Ron”) K. Brown, age 91, died shortly before dawn on May 7, 2021 at home with his wife, Georgean (“Jeanie”) by his side. Ron was born to Kenneth R. (1906-1933) and Esther E. Brown (Conard) (1907-1996) in August, 1929 shortly before the Great Depression. He was their only child.
Growing up in Bloomington, Ron attended Elm Heights Elementary School and Bloomington High School (Class of 1947) where he played JV basketball and club baseball. By all accounts, Ron had an enjoyable childhood in Bloomington and was known for engaging in a bit of harmless mischief in his youth. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 at age 19, and served aboard the USS Francis M. Robinson, a destroyer escort stationed in Key West, FL during the Korean War, testing new anti-submarine radar technology, until his honorable discharge from military service in July of 1952.
After leaving the Navy, Ron attended Indiana University under the GI Bill, where he earned a B.A. in Business. His first job was with Elgin Watch Company (Elgin, IL) where he met his wife, Jeanie. They married in June, 1957 and spent the next few years in Bloomington, IL during which time Ron worked for State Farm Insurance Company. Upon being offered the opportunity to return to Bloomington, IN, Ron moved back to his hometown with his wife and young children in 1960 and began working with his mother and step-father in the family business, Paul G. Conard Insurance Agency, of which he later became the sole proprietor, running the agency with his wife.
Among Ron’s hobbies and interests, his favorite included morel mushroom hunting, coin collecting, backyard bird watching, movies, learning and sharing IU sports and historical trivia and doing cross-word puzzles – so much that he was solving crossword puzzles up to a few weeks before his death. His favorite pastime, however, was watching athletic events. Ron was an avid IU sports fan and held season football tickets for many years. Most of all though, he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in their activities and events – which included swimming, volleyball, basketball, baseball, football, soccer, golf, cross-country track, bicycle racing (Little 500), theatre/plays, piano recitals, and dance.
Community and country were important to Ron and he served civically in a number of ways. In addition to being a local small business owner, Ron was a proud member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (Lodge #446, Bloomington), the American Legion Post 18 of Bloomington and the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 604. He was an active member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, serving as treasurer for several years. Ron staffed local voter election sites over the years and was active in his children’s sports and activities by volunteering as a sports coach, team director, statistician and referee/umpire.
Ron is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanie, and their three children – Julie (Jeffrey Moulden - Bloomington), Kenneth (Bloomington) and Michael (Columbia, MD). He leaves behind nine grandchildren - David (Minneapolis, MN), Ashton (David Shafer, Chicago, IL), Liz (Garrett Kelly, Durham, NC), Andy (Washington, DC), Erin (Chicago, IL), Jack (Chicago, IL), Tom (Arlington, VA), Anna (Bloomington, IN) and Joe (Columbia, MD) and three great-grandchildren - Jackson, Beckett and Karis. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Karen Cline (Bloomington, IN) and extended family, with special fondness for Lily and Ziggy.
The entire Brown Family extends their profound gratitude to the IU Health Bloomington Hospice nursing and home care staff for the tender ministrations given to Ron during his final year of life in the comfort and privacy of his home. Special thanks to Jim Kirkham, his primary nurse and Lewis Campbell, his personal health aide, who took such good care of Ron. Their respect for his dignity and autonomy was so very much appreciated, not only by the family but also by Ron.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service commemorating Ron’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 6th, 2021 at St. Thomas Lutheran Church for family and close friends, the size being limited due to Covid-19 restrictions; however the service will be streamed through the church website for those who may wish to attend remotely.
The family requests that any memorials in Ron’s honor be offered to the IU Health Bloomington Hospice Program, P.O. Box 1149, Bloomington, IN 47402, to St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 3800 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401 or by taking a few quiet moments to remember Ron and his life.
“They were glad to go home, but it was with a touch of sadness, when they passed around the bend in the creek, that they said “Good-by” to their “Castle on Brandywine.”
~ The Bears of Blue River” by Charles Major. The Library of Indiana Classics.
Growing up in Bloomington, Ron attended Elm Heights Elementary School and Bloomington High School (Class of 1947) where he played JV basketball and club baseball. By all accounts, Ron had an enjoyable childhood in Bloomington and was known for engaging in a bit of harmless mischief in his youth. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 at age 19, and served aboard the USS Francis M. Robinson, a destroyer escort stationed in Key West, FL during the Korean War, testing new anti-submarine radar technology, until his honorable discharge from military service in July of 1952.
After leaving the Navy, Ron attended Indiana University under the GI Bill, where he earned a B.A. in Business. His first job was with Elgin Watch Company (Elgin, IL) where he met his wife, Jeanie. They married in June, 1957 and spent the next few years in Bloomington, IL during which time Ron worked for State Farm Insurance Company. Upon being offered the opportunity to return to Bloomington, IN, Ron moved back to his hometown with his wife and young children in 1960 and began working with his mother and step-father in the family business, Paul G. Conard Insurance Agency, of which he later became the sole proprietor, running the agency with his wife.
Among Ron’s hobbies and interests, his favorite included morel mushroom hunting, coin collecting, backyard bird watching, movies, learning and sharing IU sports and historical trivia and doing cross-word puzzles – so much that he was solving crossword puzzles up to a few weeks before his death. His favorite pastime, however, was watching athletic events. Ron was an avid IU sports fan and held season football tickets for many years. Most of all though, he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in their activities and events – which included swimming, volleyball, basketball, baseball, football, soccer, golf, cross-country track, bicycle racing (Little 500), theatre/plays, piano recitals, and dance.
Community and country were important to Ron and he served civically in a number of ways. In addition to being a local small business owner, Ron was a proud member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (Lodge #446, Bloomington), the American Legion Post 18 of Bloomington and the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 604. He was an active member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, serving as treasurer for several years. Ron staffed local voter election sites over the years and was active in his children’s sports and activities by volunteering as a sports coach, team director, statistician and referee/umpire.
Ron is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanie, and their three children – Julie (Jeffrey Moulden - Bloomington), Kenneth (Bloomington) and Michael (Columbia, MD). He leaves behind nine grandchildren - David (Minneapolis, MN), Ashton (David Shafer, Chicago, IL), Liz (Garrett Kelly, Durham, NC), Andy (Washington, DC), Erin (Chicago, IL), Jack (Chicago, IL), Tom (Arlington, VA), Anna (Bloomington, IN) and Joe (Columbia, MD) and three great-grandchildren - Jackson, Beckett and Karis. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Karen Cline (Bloomington, IN) and extended family, with special fondness for Lily and Ziggy.
The entire Brown Family extends their profound gratitude to the IU Health Bloomington Hospice nursing and home care staff for the tender ministrations given to Ron during his final year of life in the comfort and privacy of his home. Special thanks to Jim Kirkham, his primary nurse and Lewis Campbell, his personal health aide, who took such good care of Ron. Their respect for his dignity and autonomy was so very much appreciated, not only by the family but also by Ron.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service commemorating Ron’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 6th, 2021 at St. Thomas Lutheran Church for family and close friends, the size being limited due to Covid-19 restrictions; however the service will be streamed through the church website for those who may wish to attend remotely.
The family requests that any memorials in Ron’s honor be offered to the IU Health Bloomington Hospice Program, P.O. Box 1149, Bloomington, IN 47402, to St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 3800 E. 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47401 or by taking a few quiet moments to remember Ron and his life.
“They were glad to go home, but it was with a touch of sadness, when they passed around the bend in the creek, that they said “Good-by” to their “Castle on Brandywine.”
~ The Bears of Blue River” by Charles Major. The Library of Indiana Classics.