Kenneth Harris Brownback

Kenneth Harris Brownback was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on 12 December 1951. Determined not to see 2023 and stubborn to the end, after sharing his last birthday and Christmas with his family, he left us on 30 December 2022. The son of Peter and Annadrue Brownback, he is survived by his sister Ann and his brother Van – his sister Pen predeceased him. His wife Anne and his children Adam, Drue, and James also survive him.

Ken’s early years could best be described as moving – literally. His family moved from Tuscaloosa to Arlington, Virginia and then to Paris, France. The return to the United States was to a very small training base on the outskirts of Williamsburg, Virginia. His high school years were spent in Arlington, followed by long stays in Bangkok and Vietnam.

The first years of his life seemed to satisfy Ken’s need to uproot himself – he settled in northern Virginia and Maryland for the rest of his time.

Ken was the sweetest person one could hope to meet. He made and kept friends because he liked people and they liked him. He was always ready to lend a hand to anyone.

Construction work, whether rough or finish, was Ken’s preferred trade. He could frame a house and get it under roof quickly, efficiently, and cheaply. He could handle a job by himself or boss one or more crews. He excelled in training newbies – helping them to make some sense out of a very confusing workplaces. Ken wasn’t much for philosophical ponderings, but everyone who worked for him came to realize that “a 2x4 isn’t fixed, it’s just an idea – you make it do what you want.”

This philosophy served him well in construction stints throughout the mid-Atlantic states and a six month stint in Iran – he was able to train and supervise any group that was willing to learn.

Ken was not able to accept direction unless the person proved that he was worthy of supervising him. His 2 years in the Army showed him, and those who knew him, that a title or job position did not mean that someone knew how to work. Until he was convinced that a person deserved to be incharge, Ken demanded that the person prove it.

Ken’s death means that all of those who knew him have lost a valued advisor. Those who were close to him lost much more.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.witzkefuneralhomes.com for the Brownback family.