Samuel J. Brown

Samuel Joseph Brown, 71, of rural Battle Ground, unexpectedly passed into eternal life on Friday, February 6, 2026, peacefully in his sleep. Born August 17, 1954 in Frankfort, Indiana, Sam was the second of three sons born to Dale R. and Marian H. Brown. He attended St. Lawrence Catholic School for grade school, East Tipp Jr/Sr. High, and graduated in the class of 1972 from Harrison High School. Sam went on to earn a BS in Agriculture in 1976 and later a Master's degree in Education, both from Purdue University.

His marriage was to his high school sweetheart, Martha (Marty) A. Haan, on June 8, 1974 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. After graduating from Purdue, they moved to Montgomery County, Indiana where Sam taught agriculture at Southmont High School. He enjoyed teaching, but decided to pursue his interest in plant breeding and return to the Lafayette area. He worked as a plant breeder for DeKalb Seed Research, then Trio Research, and ultimately created his own soft red winter wheat breeding program, Genesis Seed Research. Through faith, family, hard work and dedication, he grew Genesis Seed Research into a successful wheat breeding operation. In 2010, the opportunity came to sell the business to Limagrain Cereal Seeds. He stayed on as a consultant with Limagrain until 2013. Unable to sit still and unwilling to give up his love of wheat breeding, he formed Trinity Wheat Research. The wheat was more than just Sam's business; it was a complete family operation with Marty, their children, their children's spouses, their grandchildren, and numerous extended family members and friends working in some capacity throughout the years. Sam got great satisfaction from his work developing new and better varieties of wheat. He always enjoyed showing others his business operation and explaining wheat breeding. He was a friend, business associate, and mentor to many in the wheat industry.

Sam was also a land developer and owned numerous rental properties. He was a co-developer of Stacey Hollow, Stacey Hollow Place, Mariah Meadow and Archervilla. He owned and operated High Hill Mobile Home Park for many years and served two terms as president of the Tippecanoe Chapter of Indiana Manufactured Housing Association.

Sam's Catholic faith was at the center of his life. He was a former member of St. Ann Catholic Church where he was a catechist, reader, and Eucharistic minister. He also served as president of St. Ann's parish council. He spent the last twenty years as a member of St. Lawrence where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. Along with Marty, he was a host for Why Catholic and served several years on the RCIA team.

Sam was a special man and loved others like Jesus asks us to. He was humbly inquisitive, and had a genuine, caring interest in people. Translation – he asked a lot of questions! But, he truly loved to meet people and learn about them. He was always willing to lend a helping hand. He regularly went out of his way to help or do something to brighten someone's day. Sam had quite the green thumb and will forever be remembered for making beautiful flower arrangements from the flowers he grew around the farm. He took great joy in giving flowers to friends, family, neighbors, and just about anyone he came in contact with. Sam was a devoted neighbor to those living close to him in the Hog Point neighborhood. He was always sharing food, plowing snow, and just taking care of those around him.

Sam is survived by Marty, his loving wife of 51 years, and their four children and spouses, twenty grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Samuel Keith (Amanda) Brown, of Battle Ground, and their children: Elise (Tyler) Goodson and their children Theo and Jubilee; Emily (John) Herring; Jared, Josh, Susannah, Samuel James, and Sophie Brown. Nathan (Becky) Brown, of Battle Ground, and their children: Caroline (John) Newcomb and baby Newcomb due in July; Luke, Samantha, Maria, and Elizabeth Brown. Adam (Burgess) Brown, of Jamestown, Indiana, and their children: Wyatt and Charlotte Brown. Katie (Cale) Russler of Owensville, Indiana, and their children: Kayla, Kinsey, and Pete Russler.

He is also survived by his father, Dale R. Brown, and brothers Gary (Teresa) Brown, and Jeff (Robin) Brown. Brothers-in-law Mike (Sandy) Haan, John (Rosemary) Haan, and Dan (Connie) Haan and sisters-in-law Mary Lou Corbin and Helen (Chuck) McFadden and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Aunts Barbara Virgin, Bette Brown, Barbara I. Sondgerath, Shirley Sondgerath, Uncle Bernard Krebs, and Uncle Bill and Aunt Barbara Sondgerath, and many special Sondgerath, Brown and Haan cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother Marian Sondgerath Brown, niece Stacey Lee Brown, niece Stacy Brouwer Brown, niece Sally Brown, brother-in-law Bill Corbin, sister-in-law Marilyn Haan, nephew Michael A. Haan, great-niece Nicole Bowen, and great nephew Wesley Corbin.

His family was his joy. He took great pleasure and had lots of fun taking his grandkids and friends for golf cart rides around the farm. Golf cart rides with kids were always accompanied by telling corny jokes and singing silly songs as loudly as they could, "Where, oh, where are you tonight…" Also, the "prayer" whenever a kid drove the golf cart "Oh, dear Lord, please protect us from this wild and crazy driver…" Rides were almost always accompanied by "vitamins," aka cookies he kept in the barn.

We all have a Sam-sized hole in our hearts. And we are all better for having known him and being loved by him.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 12 from 4-7 p.m. at Hippensteel Funeral Home. The Rosary will be prayed on Friday, February 13 at 9:30 a.m. at Hippensteel, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Lawrence Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. with burial to follow at St. Boniface Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Lawrence Church, the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana Seminarian Fund, or Lafayette Urban Ministry. Share memories and condolences online at www.hippensteelfuneralservice.com.