Willis Leonard Brown, passed away, Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Mesa, Arizona. Willis was born May 26, 1932, in Crookston, Nebraska to Carl Grant and Frances Grace (Emerick) Brown, the seventh child of eleven, and the last of five sons. Willis grew up on the family farm along Antelope Creek, located about three miles northwest of Olsonville, Todd County, South Dakota, attended Todd County schools and graduated from Todd County High School in Mission, South Dakota in 1949.
In January 1952, Willis enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, completed Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego and volunteered for Korea in the summer of 1953 and served a tour of duty with VF-514, the ‘Flying Nightmares’, after Korea, Willis returned to California, where he received an honorable discharge in January 1955.
On June 15, 1956, Willis married Winifred ‘Winnie’ Ward, the daughter of E.W. ‘Red’ and Bernice Winifred (Ayers) Ward, in Valentine, Nebraska and to this union, a daughter and two sons joined the family: Randall Stewart ‘Randy’ in 1959, Kathleen Kay ‘Kathy’ in 1961 and Kevin Carl in 1963.
In 1958, Willis and Winnie moved to Sidney, Nebraska and the Sioux Ordinance Depot, where Willis began his thirty-year career as a Quality Assurance Specialist – Ammunition Surveillance with the U.S. Department of the Army. Army took him to many duty stations. Which with the closure of the Sioux Depot in 1964, Willis and the family moved overseas to Yokohama, Japan. Returning to the states in 1967 with an assignment to Tooele, Utah. In 1969, Willis was ordered to Vietnam for a one-year tour of duty, while the family remained in Tooele, Utah. In 1971, orders were received for Richmond, Kentucky, followed by a move in 1973 to Okinawa, Japan. Returning to the states in 1975 to Yuma, Arizona. His final duty assignment was a move in 1978 to Rock Island Arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois., where he retired in 1987.
After retirement, Willis and Winnie traveled for pleasure, rather than work. Played and helped with the arriving grandchildren, basically enjoying life. Sadly, Winnie lost her battle with cancer in 1991, and life was not all that enjoyable for a while, until another granddaughter arrived in 1993 to spoil, train and educate.
Willis reconnected in 1994 with an old friend from Valentine, Virginia Epp, who had been one of Winnie’s friends in high school. Willis and Virginia were married March 26, 1996, in Virginia City, Nevada and moved to Mesa, Arizona, but almost immediately began traveling in a motorhome visiting friends and family, seeing interesting and not so interesting sights, but always enjoying the journey and their company. They enjoyed twenty-eight years together before Virginia died in Mesa, Arizona on July 22, 2023. Virginia is buried in Minatare, Nebraska next to her parents, Herman and Opal (Jackson) Epp.
Willis was proceeded in death by his parents; Carl Grant and Frances Grace (Emerick) Brown. Sisters and brothers-in-law, Ethel Grace (Brown) and John Rowley ‘Jack’ Harvey, Dorothy Mae Brown, Mary Jean (Brown) and Norman Lewis ‘Bud’ Fischer, Helen Eileen Brown, Rose Eleanor (Brown) and Ernest Willard Herron. Brothers and sisters-in-law; Lawrence Burt ‘Pete’ Brown, Clarence Frank Brown, Donald Carl and Bernadine Martha (Hensen) Brown, and Marvin Lee Brown. His first wife, Bernice Winifred ‘Winnie’ (Ward) Brown, second wife, Virginia (Epp) (Andrews) (Spichal) Brown. Brother-in-laws and sisters-in-law; Eugene Gardner ‘Bud’ Grooms, Elmer William ‘Bill’ and Della Ilene Ward, Claude Edward Bruckner, and James Merritt Ward, Rodney and Laverna (Larson) Epp, Jane (Epp) Kreycik.
Willis is survived by his children and their spouses, Randall Stewart ‘Randy’ and April Ann (Fuller) Brown; daughter, Kathleen Kay ‘Kathy’ (Brown) and Mark Allen Fiala; son, Kevin Carl and Leah Joan (Boyle) Brown. Grandchildren and spouses; Michael Allen ‘Mike’ and Sara Lynn (Dunham) Fiala, Nathan Christopher and Gillian Marie (Squires) Brown, Nicholas Adam ‘Nick’ and Lora Elizabeth (Haggerson) Fiala, Malerie Faye and Tracy McGee, Douglas Eugene ‘Doug’ Fiala, Rebecca Winifred ‘Becky’ Fiala and Tanner Scibetta, Parry Ward Brown, Grace Marie and Wyatt Caleb Hoffman, Kyle EeyresandKathrynYi,andChristopher William ‘Chris’ Brown. Sister, Mildred Louise (Brown) Grooms, Sister-in-law; Frances ‘Sis’ (Ward) (Bruckner) Cundall, Patricia ‘Patty’ (Beman) Ward, Johanna Marie ‘Jo’ Brown, Linda ‘Tomi’ Epp. Brother- in-law and sister-in-law; Leslie Gale ‘Mick’ and Twylah Lou (Lux) Ward. Brother-in-law, Hale Kreycik. Twelve great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Willis’s acquired extended family includes Debbie (Andrews) and Rob Palmer, Mari (Andrews) and Jeff Greer. Granddaughters; Casie (Ireland) and John Hulden, Rachel Schultz. Grandson, Lonnie Ireland Jr. who all survive him.
Willis had many interests ranging from steam tractors, old guns, gardening, puttering in his shop, woodturning, in which everything came out perfect, because the others went into the fireplace never to be seen again. Inventing recipes, which sometimes involved throwing berries at the pie crusts with his grandkids. In later years, he turned his attention to family history and the stories that brings that alive. But there were always family to help and visit with and of course grandkids to spoil. Willis liked to talk to young kids and sometimes would try and buy their mamas. It was rare, when he could not make a successful purchase. The look of surprise on the mama was priceless. Sometimes, Willis could make the same purchase over and over.
The family would like to recognize and thank Gillian Brown and Casie Hulden for their devotion, assistance and attention they gave Willis.
A grave-side service and inurnment will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Mount Hope Cemetery, Valentine, Nebraska where he will rejoin his wife, Winnie.
