"Norm was a beacon of JOY in Jesus at so many Gospel sings I managed. He was always friendly gregarious and supportive. He helped my wife and I to get through many difficult days managing the Pella Iowa Sing and Henderson Music Festival. He always called me his cousin Louie (Brown). He always called me at Christmas but this last year I beat him to it. I called him first. He will long be remembered and the choir in heaven is rejoicing for a life well lived. Louie Brown"
In loving memory of
Norman L. Brown
April 16, 1935 - March 15, 2020
IN FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CDC AND THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE FAMILY OF NORMAN L. BROWN HAS DECIDED TO CANCEL NORMAN'S PUBLIC VISITATION AND FUNERAL SERVICE. A PRIVATE FAMILY SERVICE WILL BE HELD.
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO NORMAN'S FAMILY.
Norman L. Brown, 84, of Dumont, Iowa, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2020, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa. He was born April 16, 1935, in rural Butler County, Iowa, to Archie C. and Mina D. (Groen) Brown.
Norman graduated from Dumont Community High School in 1952. He attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette. He was united in marriage to El "gene" Davis on October 8, 1958, in Aredale, Iowa. Norman worked as a farmer, salesman, and owned and operated the Hwy Cafe in Dumont.
Norman was a member of the New Hope United Methodist Parish in Dumont, Iowa. He enjoyed listening to Southern Gospel Music, watching television, cheering for the UNI Panthers and Iowa Hawkeyes, organizing Class of '52 reunions, and making early morning phone calls to wish people birthday and anniversary greetings. Norm never met a stranger and wasn't afraid to speak his mind.
Norman is survived by his wife, El "gene" Brown, of Dumont; 3 daughters, Tammy (Eddie) Malate of Milpitas, California; Janet (Jack) Swanson of Arlington; and Toni Brown (Michael Wilson) of Waterloo; grandchildren Garett (Sheeree) Malate, Kyla Jo Malate, Haley (Ryan) Malate-Parrette, Drew (Charlene) Malate, all of California; Cole (Brenda) Swanson of Marion, Clay Swanson of Cedar Rapids, Cade Swanson of Des Moines, and Meg Swanson of Cedar Falls; great-grandchildren Graham, Simone, Cru Kamea, U'ilani, Nathan, Dean, all of California, and Aria of Marion.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents.
Tributes
"Back in 1981 when I worked in Dumont for a while, Norm found out that the only vegetable I would eat was carrots. Guess what he made for me almost every day. Carrots. And a lot of joking around too. Sorry to hear of his passing and my sympathy to his family."
"I will always remember Norman coming to the Post Office when I worked there. He was always playing jokes and had many stories. I said we could never get him because he was to good. Well we did. We put slime in his mailbox so when someone was talking to him he just reached in and he got slimmed. We all were laughing. He always made my day when I ran into him at the PO or on the street somewhere. My heart goes out to the family. "
"Norm was the first "boss" I ever had. It sure wouldn't happen in todays world, child labor laws. SMH but I really did enjoy working with him. "
"Sorry to hear of Norm?s death. He was one of the good ones. His laugh will always stand out in my memories of him. "
"Sorry to hear of Cousin Norm?s death. He will be greatly missed. His laugh will always stand out in my memory. "
"gene,Tammy,Janet,Toni & families-----You have my deepest Sympathy in your great loss of Norman.He & all of you were & are great neighbors. I guess we will look at it as "one of the spokes of our wheel is missing but we will keep the wheel turning using the special memory power of Norm's actions, antics & laugh! " I feel bad for you that the usual memory sharing at visitation can't happen because of what is going on in our world currently. But look at it this way--instead of a 3 hour memory recall with conversations I'm sure your friends & relatives will still be sharing these with you when you meet anywhere or everywhere over future years. "
"The memories we share from Dumont, school with your mom, cafe with your dad, then the family farm neighbors with granpa and grandma and your dad farming...our lives are entwined, you are all in my thought and prayers at this very difficult time. Mona (Buseman) Storm."
"So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you"
"Gene, Toni, Janet and Tammy, I am so sorry to hear about Norms passing. He was so generous to offer me a job at the cafe when I moved to Dumont. I will always be great fun to him for that. May he Rest In Peace and may you be comforted by your memories. Sorry we couldn?t all come to his services. "
"My sympathies to the family. Norm was a customer of ours at Dralle Plumbing and Heating. He would frequently stop in at the shop and I always enjoyed our visits and his sense of humor and I'll always remember his boisterous laugh and big smile. He never forgot my birthday nor to call it in to KLMJ, the local radio station. Every encounter with Norm was enjoyable and memorable!"
"My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family ?"
"I ll always remember of your nice smile and your humor ; I've of course thoughts for mum and all the family, especially JANET, TONY and TAMMY ; I am far away from you and my thoughts are with you this tuesday . love Véronique from France"
"We remember Norms sense of humor and the wonderful times we had at the Brown reunions.
Larry & Cathy Sease"
"Toni-My sincere sympathy to you and your entire family on the loss of your father. I know from hearing you talk about him he was well loved and will be greatly missed. Jane Johnson"
"Very sorry for the family loss. He was a really nice guy for a neighbor . He will be miss. Sending prayers for the family "