John Wayne Brown, 75, Twelve Mile, passed away at 5:55 p.m. Friday, September 8, 2023, at his home of fifty years in Twelve Mile, Indiana.
Born on September 24, 1947, in Peru, Indiana, he was the son of James Logan and Gene Ellen (Howard) Brown. On September 13, 1969, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he married Constance Eugena Gibbs, who survives.
He attended Maconaquah High School, class of 1967, before leaving to join the United States Army. He served two years in Vietnam before being transferred to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs where he met his wife of fifty-four years. His family was able to gather in 2019 to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary in their beloved Twelve Mile Community. John attended Skinner Chapel, near Twelve Mile after his home church, the Twelve Mile United Methodist, closed. John enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, camping, working in the flower and vegetable garden, and keeping their home looking nice by always keeping up on mowing and weed-eating, maintaining the grass all the way to the Defco lot and back. He also took care of his neighbors, shoveling snow in the winter.
John was always working to keep his 2009 Ford F150 looking its best. He had been fixing up a 1923 Ford T-Bucket which he had always wanted and bought just a year ago; he had almost finished his restoration work. He always helped his wife around the house. He and his wife added a second floor to the house in 1993 and built a large garage for his semi. They added a shelter for the RV and a lean-to for his toys. A lot of time, you would see him working on something with Steve Benedict and Dan.
John worked for General Transfer, Rochester, Indiana, retiring in 1999. He then bought his own truck which he drove for over twenty-years, working for nine years driving for Ed Burns & Sons Trucking. Even though he retired several times, he was always working part-time for friends, Brian Moss, Geary Manuel, Brian Hartley, Larry Tabler, Mike and Dee McKinley, and he was still working for Nutrient Ag at the time of his death.
Survivors include his wife, Connie Brown, Twelve Mile; children, John Brown, Jr., Kentucky; Nonie (Dennis) Frye, Logansport; Brian Brown, Twelve Mile; and Logan (Rusty) Newby, Rochester grandchildren, Austin, Christopher, Shawn, Hank, Megan, Ben, Britny, Caleigh, Cateline, Kamryn, and Payton; great-grandsons, Leo and Colt; and his puppy of six years, Missy (which you would see most of the time with John); and sisters, Sharon (Don) Craig, Macy; Teresa (Brian) Bruce, Kokomo; Bonnie (Mike) Burns, Twelve Mile; and Christie (Tim) Howard, Peru.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Gene Brown; in-laws, Joe and Billie Gibbs; granddaughters, Allie and Bailey Frye, and nephew, Jerald Craig.
Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana. Pastor David Noel will officiate at a service immediately following visitation. Burial will follow the service in St. John Cemetery, Logansport.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cause for Paws, Logansport, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.mcclainfh.com.
