Vernard "Vern" Francis Browne

Vernard "Vern" Francis Browne passed away April 3rd, 2024 after a brief illness. He was born December 12th, 1933 in Waterloo, Iowa to William and Cecilia (Lavenz) Browne. He went to Catholic school most of his life, attending Sacred Heart with his brother Ed, before the school decided it wasn't big enough for both Brownes. Vern then finished high school at East High in Waterloo. At that time, he worked second shift with Ed at A & L Bakery in Waterloo, where he was finally able to devote his wages to buying cars and motorcycles, rather than private school books. His pride and joy was a '39 Packard in near perfect condition. He also had fond memories of his first motorcycle, which was an Indian Chief.

After high school, he joined the Naval Reserves as a Seabee. He later applied for active duty. While he was in basic training the war ended, so he did not get sent to Korea, but instead was sent to Port Hueneme to learn how to be a plumber and pipe fitter. He finished his time in the service at St. John's Harbour in Newfoundland.

Vern then used the GI bill to go to Iowa State Teachers College as a Social Science major. He was interested in history and economics. He worked summers at John Deere. After the third year of college, he realized it was in his best interest to work at John Deere full time, and did not return to finish his degree. His love of learning stayed with him, and he continued to read and learn for the rest of his life, always staying current on world events and politics.

He started at John Deere as a piece worker in the heat treat, transferring later to a plumbing unit due to his experience in the navy. Eventually, he moved to 7-B for machine repair, which he excelled in, and stayed there until he retired in 1998, after 40 years.

Vern married Beatrice Lucille Jordan on August 5th, 1961. They shared 62 years of marriage.

Vern enjoyed listening to music, specifically classical, opera, and New Orleans jazz. He also enjoyed tinkering, inventing things to use around the house, and growing peonies. He was an armchair chef who loved reading cookbooks to bookmark recipes he would convince Bea to make for him. One of his favorite things to do was visit with his granddaughters, discussing anything from extraterrestrials to economics. Whenever they played piano, he would pull up a chair to listen. He hosted regular murder mystery nights for them featuring the British drama, Midsomer Murders.

Vern was survived by his wife, Bea, his daughter Andrea (Terry) Williams of Cedar Falls, his son Dan Browne of Waterloo, Iowa, his granddaughters Lauren Williams of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Alexis Williams of Iowa City, Iowa and his brother Albert Browne of Jesup, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his son David in 2005, his parents, and his brothers Edgar Browne and Kenneth Browne, and his infant sister Roseanne.

There will be a memorial gathering at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Bethel Hall on Sunday, June 30th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.