Bruce B. Brown, 93, of Kokomo, IN died February 28, 2017 in West Lafayette, IN.
He was born May 28, 1923 in Weyauwega, WI to Allan G. and Elizabeth (Stewart) Brown. In 1941 he graduated from Little Wolf High School in Manawa, WI, earning academic honors and nine major letters in three sports. Bruce always enjoyed returning to Manawa and the formal and informal reunions with classmates. He attended the University of Wisconsin Madison until called to active duty in the USAAF Aviation Cadet Program. He graduated from Pilot Class 44-B in Lajunta, CO, receiving his wings and commission. His next assignment was as a Flight Instructor at Bergstrom, AAFB, TX. He then spent fifteen months flying C-47’s in the North African Theater, rotating back to the US at WWII war end. He joined the USAFR and retired in 1970 as a Lt Col. After WWII Bruce returned to Madison on the GI Bill and completed his BSME in 1948. He was a proud Badger and lifelong Packers fan, attending the 1967 Ice Bowl. After graduation Bruce started at Delco Radio in Chicago as a Manufacturing Engineer. In 1957 he transferred to Delco R&D in Kokomo, working on several new product designs, notably an automobile automatic temperature control for Cadillac. He retired from Delco Electronics in 1982 as a Senior Staff Engineer executive. Bruce had many hobbies including flying, building an airplane, and carpentry. He played tennis until his health no longer permitted it. He was a long term member of Kokomo Lions’ Club, and served over twenty years in SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) helping several startups in the Kokomo area. He belonged to the Experimental Aircraft Association and attended their annual Oshkosh Fly-In for thirty years.
In 1948 he married Audrey F. Plowman in Watertown, WI. She preceded him in death in 2007. His siblings: Gordon Stewart, Margaret Jane (infant), Lela May, and Harvey Neal also preceded him in death. He is survived by sons, Douglas B. Brown, Dr. Jeffrey P. (Danielle) Brown, and David R. (Marilyn) Brown; daughters, Susan Maxson and Mary Catherine Carmichael, and several grand and great-grandchildren.
Services celebrating Bruce’s life will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, March 3, 2017 at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, Kokomo, IN, beginning with military honors provided by the United States Air Force. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Waupaca, WI on Monday. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Poor Clare’s Monastery in Kokomo in Honor and Memory of Bruce’s wife Audrey. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.