1938
Donald
2023
Donald Brown
February 11, 1938 — December 1, 2023
Donald William Brown, 85, of Reseda, CA. passed away peacefully with his beloved wife, Jean, and family at his side on December 1, 2023. Don will always be remembered as a strong, generous man with a fierce love for his family.
Don and Jean were married on May 17, 1957. In June of 1961, they purchased their family home in Reseda, California, where they continued to reside.
Don’s children live in six different states and there were many memorable trips for weddings, celebrations, and new life as little ones arrived. You could always find Don with his family surrounded by his love for music and sense of humor.
Don was the youngest of three children born February 11, 1938, to George Wyatt Brown and Mae Elizabeth Bartlett in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Bemidji High School in Minnesota and was a star athlete playing football, basketball, wrestling, and track. Don starred as the halfback of his high school football team and earned a football scholarship to the University of Illinois.
After graduating high school Don played football at the University of Illinois. While visiting his father in California he met Jean, and they married. Don received football scholarships from UCLA and USC, but due to transfer difficulty, he played for Santa Monica Civic College.
Don’s early jobs to support his family included being the head of janitor services at Gibraltar Savings in Beverly Hills. He worked as a chauffeur for Ramo Woolridge at night so he could attend college during the day. Don went to work for Travelers Insurance in 1964 and opened his own business the Don Brown Insurance Agency in 1965. Don created “All About Wealth Inc.” as a certified estate counselor and financial planner in 2001.
Don had a gifted talent for art and painted many pictures that hang in the Brown home. Don took great pride as a carpenter, designing, building, and remodeling his home. He played the trumpet in school and had a diverse love of music. In his later years, Don enjoyed playing golf.
Don was involved with his children, being an Indian Guide father, coach of many sports, and president of the Grover Cleveland High School Booster Club for many years, where he and Jean received the highest athletic volunteer award. He has been an active member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish in Reseda, CA since 1961. He participated in the PTO, Men’s Club, coached football, basketball, and track, served as a Eucharistic Minister, Confirmation Program Co-Director with Jean, and assisted with various church activities including repairing damaged buildings and upgrading church pews.
Don’s lifelong journey was met with challenges of vision loss, the death of his oldest son, kidney failure, heart attacks, and chronic COVID. His strength and endurance to meet these challenges was beyond admirable.
Don loved exchanging hearty handshakes and jokes with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed celebrating holidays including Ground Hogs Day and St. Patrick’s Day making fun-shaped colored pancakes and games for his children to celebrate. Don’s favorite meal was breakfast and Sunday after church usually included a donut.
Don was predeceased by his father George Wyatt Brown, his mother Mae Elizabeth (Bartlett) Elavsky, his siblings: Helen Brown Korevaar, Jack Brown, and his son Timothy Michael Brown.
He is survived by his lifelong wife of 66 years Jean (Villaryo) Brown, five children, their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. They include his daughter Kathy Parlevliet (Jack), Pennie Brown, Tim Brown (Karen), Cindy Hayes (Herby), Donald Brown (Jennie), and Michael Brown (Jennifer). Grandchildren: James Parlevliet, Dana Dickerson (Lee), Adam Parlevliet, Ryan Edwardsen (Coral), Kellie Preble (Jake), Courtney Sullivan (Brett), Corey Sullivan, Casey Sullivan (Dani), Thomas Brown, Jenna Brown, Joshua Hayes (Bonnie Jean), Matthew Hayes (Tara), Jacob Hayes, Wyatt Brown, Dawson Brown, Adriana Brown, Rebecca Brown. Great Grandchildren: Margaret Dickerson, Ivy Edwardsen, Owen Edwardsen, Lola Edwardsen, Cohen Preble, Averie Preble, Blake Lewis, Hunter Sullivan, Hayden Sullivan, Harper Sullivan, Maverick Hayes, Quinton Hayes, Samson Hayes, Levi Hayes, Lily Hayes, and Ella Hayes.
Services will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Reseda on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM followed by an entombment ceremony at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery Columbarium in Mission Hills. The funeral Mass will be live-streamed at http://www.catherineofsienaparish.org/.
To
send flowers
to the family of Donald William Brown, please visit our
Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
Don and Jean were married on May 17, 1957. In June of 1961, they purchased their family home in Reseda, California, where they continued to reside.
Don’s children live in six different states and there were many memorable trips for weddings, celebrations, and new life as little ones arrived. You could always find Don with his family surrounded by his love for music and sense of humor.
Don was the youngest of three children born February 11, 1938, to George Wyatt Brown and Mae Elizabeth Bartlett in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Bemidji High School in Minnesota and was a star athlete playing football, basketball, wrestling, and track. Don starred as the halfback of his high school football team and earned a football scholarship to the University of Illinois.
After graduating high school Don played football at the University of Illinois. While visiting his father in California he met Jean, and they married. Don received football scholarships from UCLA and USC, but due to transfer difficulty, he played for Santa Monica Civic College.
Don’s early jobs to support his family included being the head of janitor services at Gibraltar Savings in Beverly Hills. He worked as a chauffeur for Ramo Woolridge at night so he could attend college during the day. Don went to work for Travelers Insurance in 1964 and opened his own business the Don Brown Insurance Agency in 1965. Don created “All About Wealth Inc.” as a certified estate counselor and financial planner in 2001.
Don had a gifted talent for art and painted many pictures that hang in the Brown home. Don took great pride as a carpenter, designing, building, and remodeling his home. He played the trumpet in school and had a diverse love of music. In his later years, Don enjoyed playing golf.
Don was involved with his children, being an Indian Guide father, coach of many sports, and president of the Grover Cleveland High School Booster Club for many years, where he and Jean received the highest athletic volunteer award. He has been an active member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish in Reseda, CA since 1961. He participated in the PTO, Men’s Club, coached football, basketball, and track, served as a Eucharistic Minister, Confirmation Program Co-Director with Jean, and assisted with various church activities including repairing damaged buildings and upgrading church pews.
Don’s lifelong journey was met with challenges of vision loss, the death of his oldest son, kidney failure, heart attacks, and chronic COVID. His strength and endurance to meet these challenges was beyond admirable.
Don loved exchanging hearty handshakes and jokes with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed celebrating holidays including Ground Hogs Day and St. Patrick’s Day making fun-shaped colored pancakes and games for his children to celebrate. Don’s favorite meal was breakfast and Sunday after church usually included a donut.
Don was predeceased by his father George Wyatt Brown, his mother Mae Elizabeth (Bartlett) Elavsky, his siblings: Helen Brown Korevaar, Jack Brown, and his son Timothy Michael Brown.
He is survived by his lifelong wife of 66 years Jean (Villaryo) Brown, five children, their spouses, 17 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. They include his daughter Kathy Parlevliet (Jack), Pennie Brown, Tim Brown (Karen), Cindy Hayes (Herby), Donald Brown (Jennie), and Michael Brown (Jennifer). Grandchildren: James Parlevliet, Dana Dickerson (Lee), Adam Parlevliet, Ryan Edwardsen (Coral), Kellie Preble (Jake), Courtney Sullivan (Brett), Corey Sullivan, Casey Sullivan (Dani), Thomas Brown, Jenna Brown, Joshua Hayes (Bonnie Jean), Matthew Hayes (Tara), Jacob Hayes, Wyatt Brown, Dawson Brown, Adriana Brown, Rebecca Brown. Great Grandchildren: Margaret Dickerson, Ivy Edwardsen, Owen Edwardsen, Lola Edwardsen, Cohen Preble, Averie Preble, Blake Lewis, Hunter Sullivan, Hayden Sullivan, Harper Sullivan, Maverick Hayes, Quinton Hayes, Samson Hayes, Levi Hayes, Lily Hayes, and Ella Hayes.
Services will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Reseda on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM followed by an entombment ceremony at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery Columbarium in Mission Hills. The funeral Mass will be live-streamed at http://www.catherineofsienaparish.org/.
To
send flowers
to the family of Donald William Brown, please visit our
Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Brown, please visit our flower store.
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