Percy Joseph Brown
September 5, 1920 — November 5, 2011
Percy Joseph “Peck” Brown heard the final gun on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Services will be held at a later date .
He was born to Leigh and Anna Brown on September 5, 1920, in Malden, Washington, where his father worked for the Milwaukee Road. The railway was responsible for some of the most defining and enduring memories of his life, from playing among the boxcars in childhood to riding the rails and “going hobo” in adolescence. To the end, he loved the mournful call of a train whistle in the night.
A natural athlete, Peck participated in football, boxing and baseball while in high school. He enjoyed professional baseball, too, and was a life-long Cardinals fan. It is only fitting that he waited for the Cards to win the Pennant in the World Series this year.
After the death of his father in 1940, Peck and his mother moved to Puposky, Minnesota, where his aunt, Dr. Mary Ghostley, managed the Lake Julia Tuberculosis Sanatorium. He worked part-time at “the San” while also attending classes at Bemidji State Teachers College. He was relaxing by the radio on the Sanatorium porch on Sunday, December 7, 1941, when he heard about the bombing at Pearl Harbor. In January of 1942, he joined the United States Navy and, after training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, became a plank holder aboard the newly commissioned destroyer USS Lavallette. He served his country in the Pacific and, at the end of the war, on a liberty ship in North Africa, and was honorably discharged in 1945.
He resumed his studies at BSTC, working toward a degree in Secondary Education. His advisor recommended that Peck take a particular English class, taught by a beautiful, intellectual red-head named Betty Wenzel. Peck and Betty were married following Peck’s graduation in December 1947.
The newlyweds settled in Wisconsin, where Peck taught and coached in Luck, Loyal, and Viroqua. In 1954, the family moved to Chisholm, Minnesota, so Peck could assume the mantle of Head Football Coach and teacher with ISD 695. He coached and taught in the district until his retirement in 1982. During that time, several of his teams became Iron Range Conference Champs. He dedicated himself to his “boys,” and was extremely proud of their subsequent career achievements. In recognition of his coaching career, Peck was inducted into the Bemidji State University Athletic Hall of fame in 1990.
Peck was a member of the Chisholm Loyal Order of Moose, the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks, and The Press-Lloyd Post of the American Legion. He enjoyed being the Moose “Santa” at their annual Christmas parties, and was an active fundraiser for Elk Club children’s programs. He took a special interest in children with disabilities. A severe head injury in 2002 necessitated a move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for ongoing medical care. Although he was born in Washington and died in Iowa, Peck always considered Chisholm his home.
In later years, Peck enjoyed traveling to reunions for the USS Lavallette, swapping stories with shipmates. He and his family proudly hosted two reunions in Minnesota. He was among the few surviving plank holders (crew at commissioning) of his ship.
Peck was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings Art Brown, Kate Colyar, and Wanda Hanlon; and his wife Betty Wenzel Brown.
He is survived by his children: Leigh Brown, of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania; Barbara (Terry) Filippi, of Hibbing, Minnesota; and Gretchen (Keith) Wright, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Grandchildren: John Skoy, Rachel Broviak, Evelyn Skoy, Leah Wright and Noah Wright. Step-grandchildren: Jenni Hook, Zach Cole, Karyn Sader, and Kristopher Wright. Great-grandchildren: Jake Webb, Ella and Nina Cole, Caden and Graham Sader, Caleb and Quinn Wright, Eloise Broviac, and Calvin and Natalia Skoy. He is also survived by many beloved former athletes and students.
Memorials in Peck’s name may be directed to Moose Heart (through your local Moose Club); the Chisholm Foundation; The Range Center (Chisholm, Minnesota); or, the Arc of East Central Iowa (Cedar Rapids.)
Please sign the online guestbook for Percy at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
He was born to Leigh and Anna Brown on September 5, 1920, in Malden, Washington, where his father worked for the Milwaukee Road. The railway was responsible for some of the most defining and enduring memories of his life, from playing among the boxcars in childhood to riding the rails and “going hobo” in adolescence. To the end, he loved the mournful call of a train whistle in the night.
A natural athlete, Peck participated in football, boxing and baseball while in high school. He enjoyed professional baseball, too, and was a life-long Cardinals fan. It is only fitting that he waited for the Cards to win the Pennant in the World Series this year.
After the death of his father in 1940, Peck and his mother moved to Puposky, Minnesota, where his aunt, Dr. Mary Ghostley, managed the Lake Julia Tuberculosis Sanatorium. He worked part-time at “the San” while also attending classes at Bemidji State Teachers College. He was relaxing by the radio on the Sanatorium porch on Sunday, December 7, 1941, when he heard about the bombing at Pearl Harbor. In January of 1942, he joined the United States Navy and, after training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, became a plank holder aboard the newly commissioned destroyer USS Lavallette. He served his country in the Pacific and, at the end of the war, on a liberty ship in North Africa, and was honorably discharged in 1945.
He resumed his studies at BSTC, working toward a degree in Secondary Education. His advisor recommended that Peck take a particular English class, taught by a beautiful, intellectual red-head named Betty Wenzel. Peck and Betty were married following Peck’s graduation in December 1947.
The newlyweds settled in Wisconsin, where Peck taught and coached in Luck, Loyal, and Viroqua. In 1954, the family moved to Chisholm, Minnesota, so Peck could assume the mantle of Head Football Coach and teacher with ISD 695. He coached and taught in the district until his retirement in 1982. During that time, several of his teams became Iron Range Conference Champs. He dedicated himself to his “boys,” and was extremely proud of their subsequent career achievements. In recognition of his coaching career, Peck was inducted into the Bemidji State University Athletic Hall of fame in 1990.
Peck was a member of the Chisholm Loyal Order of Moose, the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks, and The Press-Lloyd Post of the American Legion. He enjoyed being the Moose “Santa” at their annual Christmas parties, and was an active fundraiser for Elk Club children’s programs. He took a special interest in children with disabilities. A severe head injury in 2002 necessitated a move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for ongoing medical care. Although he was born in Washington and died in Iowa, Peck always considered Chisholm his home.
In later years, Peck enjoyed traveling to reunions for the USS Lavallette, swapping stories with shipmates. He and his family proudly hosted two reunions in Minnesota. He was among the few surviving plank holders (crew at commissioning) of his ship.
Peck was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings Art Brown, Kate Colyar, and Wanda Hanlon; and his wife Betty Wenzel Brown.
He is survived by his children: Leigh Brown, of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania; Barbara (Terry) Filippi, of Hibbing, Minnesota; and Gretchen (Keith) Wright, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Grandchildren: John Skoy, Rachel Broviak, Evelyn Skoy, Leah Wright and Noah Wright. Step-grandchildren: Jenni Hook, Zach Cole, Karyn Sader, and Kristopher Wright. Great-grandchildren: Jake Webb, Ella and Nina Cole, Caden and Graham Sader, Caleb and Quinn Wright, Eloise Broviac, and Calvin and Natalia Skoy. He is also survived by many beloved former athletes and students.
Memorials in Peck’s name may be directed to Moose Heart (through your local Moose Club); the Chisholm Foundation; The Range Center (Chisholm, Minnesota); or, the Arc of East Central Iowa (Cedar Rapids.)
Please sign the online guestbook for Percy at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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