Obituary for Gene Harvey Brownell

Gene Brownell, age 87, of Randalia passed away Monday, July 16th, 2007, at Allen Memorial hospital, Waterloo, Iowa following a sudden illness. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, July 21st, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette, Iowa. Inurnment will follow the service at Long Grove cemetery in Maynard, Iowa. Gene''s family will greet friends and relatives at the Gary Brownell residence, 13565 O Avenue, rural Randalia, Iowa, from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Friday, July 20th, 2007, with prayer and tribute service starting at 7:30p.m. Gene Harvey Brownell was born November 7, 1919 to Herald and Hazel [Simpson] Brownell near Maynard Iowa. Gene attended and graduated from Maynard High School in 1937. Following graduation he attended the University of Iowa for a time. On June 6, 1942 Gene married Dolores Fortier. The couple raised five children and they were married for 61 years. Dolores preceeded Gene in death on October 10, 2003. Gene was employed as Fayette County A.S.C.S. office Manager for 18 years, retiring in 1983. Prior to working at A.S.C.S., Gene was a dairy farmer in the Maynard and Westgate areas from 1942 to 1965. Gene was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church for 57 years. a member of Pleasant Ridge Driving Club, the Fayette County Farm Bureau, a life member of the Holstein Association, and leader of the Harlan Livestock 4-H club for 14 years. Gene thoroughly enjoyed raising, breaking, driving and showing ponies and draft horses over the years, as well as his herd of holsteins. Survivors include: two sons, Gary [Janice] Brownell of Randalia, Ia, Bill [Diane] Brownell, Riceville, Ia, two daughters Kay [Phil] Johnson of Rolfe, Ia, and Judy [Dale] Cowell of Wauzeka, Wi. Seventeen grandchildren and thirty-eight great-grandchildren. Gene was preceeded in death by his parents, a son Dick Brownell, a great grand-daughter Katie Farmer, a brother Gerald Brownell, a sister Gwenda Brownell, and son- in-law Gary Moats. Memorials may be directed to the family.