Charles "Norman" Brown Jr. Obituary (1930

Charles "Norman" Brown Jr., age 89 years, died December 10, 2019 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center surrounded by family and friends. Norman was born January 2, 1930 to Verna Eunice Hughes and Charles Norman Brown Sr. in Ames, Iowa. The family lived at the Iowa State University Agronomy Farm except for the years 1939-1942 when they lived at the Compton Farm near Herndon, Virginia. Norman attended Oakwood one room school, then graduated from Ames High School in 1947 where he served as class president and participated in athletics. He graduated from Iowa State University with a BS (1951) and MS (1953) in Agronomy. He was tapped for Cardinal Key, the highest honorary for men, and served as President of the University YMCA and Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He sang in numerous quartets and choirs because, as he often said, music was in his soul. In 1952, Norman married Ruth K.L. Andersen, a wonderful Iowa State coed from Hardy Iowa. After 44 years together, she preceded him in death in 1996. In 2002 he later married another wonderful woman, Carolyn Lee Kuhlman. She survives of Normal, IL. Norman was a devoted patriot who was proud to serve his country. Following four years of ROTC, he was inducted into the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant in 1953 where he completed pilot flight training. He was a veteran of the Cold War, Korean War, and Vietnam War, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel and Command Pilot in 1973. Norman lived in ten states and four overseas countries, plus visited many others. He then flew corporate aircraft for General Telephone Co (Verizon) from Bloomington airport for another fifteen years with Air Transport Pilot rating. His piloting career consisted of about 13,000 flights in aircraft from the little yellow Piper Cub to the eight engine B-52 Bomber. His photo with a GTE Beech airplane was on the cover of Professional Pilot Magazine in 1987. Norman worked for decades with his family in real estate and farming. He was a devoted Christian and longtime member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal, serving in various capacities. He also participated in the ecumenical Walk to Emmaus/Great Banquet, including its prison ministries. He was a longtime member of Illinois State University Senior Professionals and the College Alumni Club where he served as President. He sang in the choir for the Bloomington American Passion Play for fifteen years. He enjoyed time with family and friends, farming, hunting, aviation, motor vehicles, music, Christian ministries, travel, and reading. Norman especially liked motorized machines and kept several antique vehicles running. He restored and maintained the home, buildings, and grounds on the farmstead where his family has lived since 1986. He graciously shared the farmstead with other individuals and groups, including for weddings and picnics. Norman was preceded in death by his first wife Ruth Brown, parents Verna and Charles Brown, sister Elsie Huber, brother Wayne Brown, and son-in-law Bill Shewman. Also surviving is his brother Keith Brown of Pennsylvania; his four children Tannia Shewman of Oregon, Laurine Brown of Normal, Blaine (Susan) Brown of Texas, and Clinton (Debbie) Brown of Towanda; eight grandchildren Nada (Jeremy) Stahmer of Normal, Melea (Spencer) Tejedas of Oregon, Dane (Jasmine) Shewman of California, Shelby (Isaac) Heath of Indiana, Preston Brown of northern Illinois, Cheylane Brown of Washington DC, Alia and Rianne Brown of Texas; seven great grandchildren Ruthie, Zac, Liam, and Landon Stahmer of Normal, Anistyn and Levi Heath of Indiana, and Ayla Shewman of California; two stepsons Robert (Melissa) Kuhlman of Normal and Charles Kuhlman of Bloomington; and four more grandchildren Ian, Bryce, Evan and Brynn Kuhlman of Normal. His visitation will be 4:00 PM-7:00 PM Friday, December 20, 2019 at Calvary United Methodist Church 1700 N. Towanda Ave, Normal IL. A Celebration of Life service will be 11:00 AM Saturday, December 21, 2019 with military rites accorded after the service by the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard. Rev. Lori Bultemeier will be officiating. Private family inurnment will be at East Lawn Cemetery, Bloomington, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bloomington/Normal Great Banquet Community PO Box 707, Bloomington, IL 61702-0707 or online via bngreatbanquet.org Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL is in charge of arrangements. Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com