James Francis Brown (Jim) was born in Farrelview, Missouri to James Francis Brown and Ella Irene Brown. He attended school in Platte City, Missouri and graduated from Platte City High School in 1951. During High School he took singing lessons and sang at numerous weddings, concerts and talent competitions around the Kansas City area. He enlisted in the Air Force in January of 1953 and received a hardship discharge in July 1953 due to the health of his father. Jim was drafted into the Army in 1955 and spent 2 years at Fitzsimons Army Base in Denver.
Jim met Donna Jean Niemann in grade school and they were in the same class throughout Junior High and High School. They married on May 7, 1955. Jim worked for Ford Motor Company as an electrician on B-42 aircraft. He also worked for IBM in the computer division from 1961 to 1976, ending as a regional manager after a transfer to Oklahoma City in 1968. In 1976, Jim opened a Shelter Insurance office and was a very successful agent until 1991. He went to work for Lowe’s in 1998 and was in commercial sales there until April of 2021.
Jim died on November 28, 2021 after a short battle with pneumonia. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Anna Jane Clay (Brown). He is survived by his wife of 66 years of the home; his sons, John F. Brown and his wife Mary, Mark F. Brown and his wife Cheri, Timothy J. Brown and his wife Rebecca; daughter, Rebecca Rodgers; 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Thursday, December 2nd from 1-8 PM at Buchanan Funeral Service. The family will be available to greet guest from 6-8 PM. Services will be Friday at 10 AM at Messiah Lutheran Church with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
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