Memorial
Charles E. Brown Jr. passed away on August 18, 2025, in Marion. Visitation will be on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Stateroom. Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at The Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website under the obituary for Charles E. Brown, Jr. under the video tab starting at 11:00 am, Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Interment will be Mt. Clark in Central City, IA.
He was Born on October 11, 1945, in Cedar Rapids, IA to Charles and Edith (Ray) Brown Sr.
Charlie loved to wrestle and was a WaMaC Champ for Marion High School. He had several martial arts belts in Judo, Karate and Tae Kwon Do. He loved to play golf and chess with his son, fish with his father-in-law, play cards and win with his mother-in-law, play video games with his children, ride his Harley Davidson with his grandkids, wife and Metro Chapter. Once a year he went on a two-week road trip with his brother-in-law Kelly and rode all over the United States. Later his passion was for playing pool with Jack Brackett (his best friend) Kerry Brackett, Morry Neibert and LeRoy Stenerson.
He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He went on the Honor Flight with his daughter in 2017 and he received a Quilt of Valor made by Jeanne Stenerson in 2022. He was a 60-year member of the American Legion Post 298.
Charlie retired from the Linn County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff on Road Patrol. He went on to work as a security guard at Rockwell Collins for 5 years.
He was baptized by Rev. Harland Minscer and was a member of First Baptist Church of Marion where he served as a greeter and Trustee and also made coffee every Sunday for his Sunday School classmates.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 44 years, Pam, his children Stacy Norton, and Travis (Cindy) Knapp; grandchildren Olivia (Levi) Kelly, Ashlyn, Trace and Greyson Norton,Cassandra Thomas, Aaron McConnell, Ashley (Ben) Fox Sr., Coye Brown and Katie Knapp great grandchildren Benjamin Fox Jr, Mellyanna and Malachi Kelly. mother-in-law Barbara Kyger-Giese and brother Richard (Shana) Giese.
He was preceded in death by his parents, great grandchild, Addonis Norton, siblings, Shirley Becker, Raymond and Phillip Roberts, father-in-law Clifford Kryger Sr. and brothers in law Cliff (Skip) and Kelly Kryger.
Charlie had a wonderful life, was a very gentle man and had many friends. There will be online services. Memorial contributions may be given to the family.