Robert "Bob" Brown

Robert Brown, 76, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on March 6, 2013. Born in Des Moines, Iowa to Clarence O. and Virginia (Dossey) Brown, Bob arrived on May 5, 1936. He grew up with one brother and two sisters.

Bob grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Roosevelt High School. As a kid, Bob loved going to family reunions in Oklahoma and trips with his family to Colorado and Canada. During his teenage years, Bob was able to travel with his grandfather one summer for his job. Bob enjoyed going to Roosevelt football games. In his early adult life, he was a member of the Youth Fellowship at his family’s church. After his high school graduation, he attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. Bob went on to graduate from Drake University in Des Moines, which is one of his greatest achievements. In the two months between his schooling at Kemper and Drake, Bob traveled around Europe with a friend whose father was stationed there. After traveling, Bob returned to Iowa to work with his father in the family business. When he turned 40, Bob left the family business to work for the State of Iowa. He began by managing a state owned liquor store in Des Moines. This store became the top selling liquor store in Iowa. Bob then transferred to the Iowa Department of Employment Services, where he worked until his retirement.

Bob has been married to his wife Pat for 37 years. Together they have a blended family of three children and nine grandchildren. Bob’s hobbies included coin collecting and watching his favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers. Bob and Pat traveled extensively. Some of their destinations included Canada, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal. Bob’s proudest life moments were the births of his two daughters.

Bob is survived by his wife, Patricia Brown; daughters, Virginia L. Brown and Joanna L. Dennison; son, Ray Wilson; brother, John Brown; sisters, Sandra O’Brien and Charlene Butz; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service for Bob will be held Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 10:00am at All Saints Catholic Church, 1534 N. Recker Rd., Mesa, Arizona 85205. Inurnment will follow at 12:00pm at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, 6747 E. Broadway Rd., Mesa, Arizona 85206. A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Leisure World, King Card Room at Rec. 1. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Health Care Center at Friendship Village 2525 E. Southern Ave Tempe, AZ 85282, designated to the 2E Employee Appreciation Fund or Hospice of the Southwest 450 N. Dobson Rd. Suite 108 Mesa, AZ 85201. Arrangements entrusted to Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care. Please leave a tribute to Bob on the family's website at www.MariposaGardens.com.