Obituary of W. Doug Brown

Doug Brown, aged 92, passed away suddenly on June 3, 2024 at the Repos Jolys personal care home in St. Pierre Jolys. He will be lovingly remembered by his daughters Vickie (Ed) Baldwin, Evelyn (Gerry) Guenther, Doris Martens, and by his sons Doug (Karen Kaluzny) and Brian (Carol), as well as his 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Doug is survived by his sisters Edna Dreger, Mabel Lyle, and Norma (Keith) Scott, his late brother Alex’s wife Linda Brown, and many nieces and nephews. Doug is also survived by twosisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law. Doug was predeceased by his parents Norman and Alma(Anderson) Brown, his wife of sixty years Carol (nee Brown), infant son Thomas, son-in-law Gary Martens, and his brother Alex, as well as brothers-in-law Harvey Dreger and Bruce Lyle. Dad grew up on a farm located on the east side of the Red River in the area then known as Union Point. He attended the Union Point School No. 53 which was located south of the Union Point United Church. Growing up, working on his parents’mixed farm was what he preferred, starting with his father and his horses, and then gradually with more mechanical equipment. In his later teens, after the farm fall harvest was done, Dad spent each winter working at various jobs in Winnipeg. Among the jobs he held were stacking bags of beet sugar at a storage warehouse, driving delivery truck for Coca-Cola and for Pepsi, and driving taxi for Moore’s. He was introduced to Carol Brown at a dance in Winnipeg held for young adults from the country.He invited Carol on a date and the relationship grew. They were married in September 1956 and lived and worked in Winnipeg. Late the following spring, after his dad passed away, they moved back to where he grew up to work on his mother’s river lot farm. With ferry service to cross the Red River at Union Point long since cancelled, they came to associate more with the nearby rural community of Otterburne West. In 1965 Dad moved his family to a farm he and mom bought in that area along Highway 205. Dadspent a lifetime raising beef cattle, taking them to graze for the summer at the community pasture at Gardenton or Pansy. He and mom harvested the crops together in the fall times. As his family grew up, Dad worked long hours farming and teaching each of his children how to help out with the work. He expanded the farm acres and cattle herd, bought up to date farm equipment, grew various grain, bean, and forage crops and sold countless alfalfa, timothy hay, and straw bales. When his sons were grown, they farmed together with dad. Dad missed his life partner when mom passed away in November 2016. Dad enjoyed visiting with family and friends, and his many farming acquaintances and when you dropped by for a visit, he always offered up refreshments. He made time to attend farm shows, ag meetings and dealer days as often as possible, and accumulated his fair share of door prizes and farm caps. His tractor and trailer were seen across southeastern Manitoba as he made bale deliveries, which included taking naps parked at the side of the road. In June of 2023 Dad reluctantly, but realizing the necessity, left his farm home of 58 years and moved into an assisted living suite at the Chalet Malouin in St. Malo. He came to enjoy living there and joking with the home care aides and his table mates. He very much appreciated all the visits from family and friends. In May of this year, due to mobility issues, he moved into the Repos Jolys personal care home in St. Pierre Jolys. A funeral will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 2:00 pm at the United Church in Morris, MB with viewing prior to the service and interment at the Morris Cemetery followed by a fellowship meal. We would like to thank the Homecare aides and staff at Chalet Malouin and Repos Jolys for the care they gave Dad. You helped make his stay enjoyable.