Kenneth J. Brown

Kenneth Joseph Brown of Corning was born July 28, 1938, to Margaret Louise Brown and Harry Raymond Brown. He entered eternal rest October 5, 2015, at 77 years old.
Kenny was born on a farm north of Ottumwa. He enjoyed growing up there with his big brother Charles, his little sister Cynthia, and his many beloved dogs. He attended a one-room country schoolhouse before moving on to Ottumwa High School. Industrial Arts classes were Kenny’s favorites, and he loved running track. In 1953, Kenny won the state indoor high hurdles, and he was a member of the state record-setting 880 medley relay team.
On the bus to high school, Kenny met a pretty girl named Myrna Lou Guiter. The two were married on March 3, 1957. Much to the surprise of their parents, they started their life together in town. Farming was just not in Kenny’s blood. He became a carpenter – a job that required great attention to detail. This was a trait Kenny developed well – one which he was recognized for the rest of his life.
Kenny worked construction from the time he graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1961. With one infant son and another on the way, Kenny joined the Iowa Highway Patrol in 1961. He moved his family to Corning, and there he served the entire 33 ½ years of his career as a State Trooper. He was well-respected as an officer who was tough, but fair.
Kenny retired from the Iowa State Patrol on January 1, 1995. He spent much of his time after that advising, assisting and visiting his family. He and Myrna enjoyed traveling to many places both domestic and international. His attention to detail did not wane, as he kept busy remodeling two rental houses and keeping their yards manicured. Kenny enjoyed playing golf with his buddies at Happy Hollow. In addition, Kenny was very proud of his service to the Country Haven Board, to the Corning Public Library Board, and to the Corning United Methodist Church as Treasurer of the Memorial Committee.
Kenneth, Kenny, Dad, Papa, will be greatly missed, but his loving family knows they will see him again someday. His surviving family includes Myrna, his wife of 58 years; his three sons, Jeff (Tres) of Iowa City; Kevin (Kelly) of Overland Park, Kansas; and Brian (Dawn) of Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania; his sister, Cynthia (Darrel) Courtney of Iowa City; six grandchildren, Tawny, Meggie, Andy, Evan, Elise and Hope; two great-grandchildren, Dutch and Mac; brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and numerous friends.
Preceding Kenny in death are his parents; brother: Charles Brown; mother-in-law and father-in-law: Theo and Harold Guiter.