John Patrick "JB" Brown

1950 - 2024

INDEPENDENCE – John Patrick "JB" Brown, 73, of Independence, Iowa, died suddenly on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, at St. John's Catholic Church in Independence, with Very Rev. David Beckman presiding. Interment will be held at St. John's Cemetery in Independence. A visitation will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. on Friday, September 20, at the Reiff Family Center – Funeral Home & Crematory in Independence, where a Parish Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday.
John was born on October 6, 1950, in Independence, the son of Florence D. "FD" and Hazel D. (Anderson) Brown. He grew up on a farm in rural Dunkerton, Iowa. In 1968, John graduated from the Dunkerton High School and went on to work for the Wonder Bread Bakery in Waterloo, Iowa. John enlisted in the United States Navy in 1971 and proudly served as a Yeoman Third Class. In 1973, John received an honorable discharge from active duty and returned to his job at Wonder Bread Bakery in Waterloo.
On June 28, 1974, John married Rachel R. "Shelly" Sanders, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Barclay Township near Dunkerton. In 1978 they made their home in Independence, later moving into their current home in 1981. In 1976, John took a job at John Deere in Waterloo in skilled trades as a Running Mechanic, making sure the machines on the mold and chip lines were kept running. During this time, he earned his journeyman card. In 1985, John was laid off from Deere and started working at Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids that fall. For twenty-nine years John worked third shift as a Millwright. He worked many long nights and weekends throughout his time there, finally retiring in 2015.
Cars were a big passion of John's, and he restored six classic cars. He had the most pride in his 1962 Corvette and his wife's 1957 Chevy. He and Shelly enjoyed going to countless car shows and cruises over the years, and even won a few awards. He was a jack of all trades. He could fix nearly anything mechanical, but also was proficient as a carpenter and electrician. John was a reluctant traveler and didn't like to go far very often. This didn't stop him from traveling the world with Shelly. They took trips together throughout North America, Ireland, and many other countries. They also enjoyed dancing. They took several different types of dance classes and always made their way to the dance floor at weddings, Electric Park Ballroom, and other venues.
He was an avid Elvis fan. It was not unusual to find him dancing with Shelly in the kitchen or rewatching the same Elvis concert video for the last 40 years. He was known as JB to his friends and acquaintances and Poppi or Grandpa to his grandchildren. A more dependable husband, father, grandfather, or friend would be hard to find.
He is survived by his wife, Rachel "Shelly" Brown, Independence; his children: Kelsey (Jonathan) Sizemore, Rowley, Iowa, Marcie (Greg) Naylor, Independence, Lynnsie (Brad) Hickey, Independence, Kaidy (Ryan) Rasmussen, Independence, and Mitchel (Taylor) Brown, Sun Prairie, Wis.; twenty grandchildren: Nick (McKenna) Frank, Andrew (Brooke) Frank, Luke (Courtney Marenkov) Frank, Kylie (Ryan Eddy) Frank, Cashmyn and Corbyn Sizemore, Amanda (Jeremy) Klendworth, Sydney, Pyper, Corbin, and Kynsie Naylor, Maelyn, Porter, Kelton, and Aidric Hickey, Brooks, Logan, and Blaikly Rasmussen, Jocelyn and Eleanor Brown; four great-grandchildren: Lily, Willow, Liam, and Hadlee Frank, and one more on the way; six brothers: Bernie (Doris) Brown, Dunkerton, Tom (Marilyn Steggall) Brown, Dunkerton, Mike Brown, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Steve (Mary Weber) Brown, Fairbank, Iowa, Paul (Cindy) Brown, Independence, and Dennis (Janet) Brown, Newhall, Iowa; a sister, Patricia Brown, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
John is preceded in death by his parents FD and Hazel Brown; three sisters: Barbara Forkner, Bernadine Wilkinson, and Mary Rigdon; and a brother Robert Brown.
To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.