Ronald Joseph Brown

Ronald Joseph Brown, 78, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the Regional Medical Center in Manchester.  He was born on October 31, 1945, in rural Monticello, Iowa, the son of Earl and Loretta (Merfeld) Brown. Ron served honorably in the United States Army.

On June 4, 1982, Ron was united in marriage to Freida Sprague in Garnavillo.  They lovingly raised their children together in Edgewood.  Ron was a lifelong entrepreneur. For 39 years, he owned a laundromat and lawn and garden business.

Ron was a longtime member of St. Mark Catholic Church and the American Legion. Ron enjoyed hunting squirrels and having squirrel dinners. He was a very good cook. Ron loved polka music, especially Molly B. He also enjoyed singing karaoke. Ron was very musical, playing the tambourine and the spoons. He was a tinkerer, who loved woodworking and restoring John Deere tractors. Above all else, Ron loved his family and cherished spending time with them.

Survivors include his wife, Freida Brown of Edgewood; his two children, Michelle (Robin Burns) Buffington of Cedar Rapids and Michael (Lori) Brown of Leominster, Massachusetts; daughter-in-law, Fran Brown; four grandchildren, Kate ( Keith) Brown of Omaha, Nebraska, Elizabeth (Joseph) Rand of Leominster, Massachusetts, Brenna Brown of Leominster, Massachusetts, and Tyler (MacKenzie) Buffington of Greenfield, Ohio; four great-grandchildren, with three on the way; his siblings, Ralph (Mary) Brown of Edgewood, Marie Hood of Manchester, Pat Rohner of Garnavillo, Robert (Mary Lou) Brown of Manchester, Walter (Kathryn) Brown of Edgewood, and Tom Brown of Jesup; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; son, Tim Brown; brothers-in-law, Glen Hood and David Rohner; and sister-in-law, Karyl Brown.

Ron’s family would like to thank the Edgewood Ambulance Service and the staff at Regional Medical Center for their kindness and wonderful care.

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