Earl Norman Brown

Earl Norman Brown, most commonly known as "Brownie," was born October 1, 1929 in Washington County, IA. He was the fourth child of six, born to his parents Howard and Zenna Earll Brown. His father passed away when Brownie was only six years old. His mother then moved her family from a farm near West Chester to Washington. He married Darlene Stevens from Brooklyn on August 24, 1952. They resided in Grinnell, and raised six children. Brownie was well known as Grinnell's police chief and proprietor of the Varsity News Stand. He moved to Maryville, MO in 1969, where he owned and operated Pagliai's Pizza until he retired in 1998. In 2015 he became a resident of St. Francis Manor in Grinnell, where he passed away on September 29, 2 days short of his 89th birthday. Brownie was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Clifford, Bernadine, and Marvin, daughter Catherine, and ex-wife Darlene. He is survived by siblings Wayne and Charlene, and children Laura, Patricia, Beverly, Steven, and Timothy, plus seven grand-children. A private service celebrating Brownie's life will be held with family and friends. He will be laid to rest with family at Ohio Cemetery in Ladora.