Jerry Brown

Jerry Brown

1950 - 2024

       MONONA —  Jerry Brown, 73 of Monona passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 27 2024 at Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse Wisconsin, from complications of COPD/Emphysema. 

       Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 1 at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home

and Cremation Service in Monona. A Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monona with Rev. Erika Lenth as the officiant. Inurnment will follow at the Monona City Cemetery, Monona, Iowa.

        Jerry was born on June 24 1950 to parents, John and Ella (Noble) Brown in Guttenberg. He was baptized and confirmed at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Monona. Jerry graduated from MFL in 1968. He married Celia Burkhalter in 1971 at St Peters Lutheran Church in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. To this union two daughters were born, Teresa and Kimberly of whom he was very proud. 

       He worked as a mechanic at Lestina Standard, Huinker Chevrolet and Birdnow Chevrolet. Jerry was a true outdoorsman, he loved hunting with his nephews, fishing with his grandchildren and Celia, metal detecting, cutting wood and mushroom hunting. He also liked gardening and mowing his lawn. He loved working on cars, often times helping a complete stranger on the side of the road. To quote him “ It was the right thing to do.” He also loved his Iowa Hawkeyes and everything about Iowa City, including the Stead Family Childrens Hospital, where his grandson was cured of leukemia.

       Jerry loved watching game shows and working on jigsaw puzzles. He loved going to his grandchildren’s activities and just being with them, Jerry was so very proud of his grandchildren. He is sadly missed by his family and many friends. 

        Jerry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Celia Brown; his daughters, Teresa (Jeff) Schlichte and Kimberly (Andy) Lee; grandchildren, Natalie Schlichte, Isaac Lee, Aubrey Schlichte and Caleb Lee; sisters, Judy Benzing and Jan Snitker; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Brown, Jeanne Brown and Linda Burkhalter; brothers-in-law, Marvin Burkhalter and Larry Burkhalter and several nieces and nephews. 

       Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in- law, Vera Burkhalter; brothers, Jack Brown and Joel Brown; brothers-in -law, Ronnie Benzing, Rick Snitker and Tony Burkhalter; sisters -in -law, Ellen Burkhalter and Carolyn Burkhalter; nieces, Lynda Burkhalter, Karen (Burkhalter) Bauer, Cathy (Burkhalter) Chicola and great niece, Taylor Nichole Benzing.

       Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona, Iowa is assisting the family with services.