Walter Brown, 101, of Oskaloosa, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at Oskaloosa Care Center.
Walter Lewis Brown was born in Oskaloosa on August 28, 1921, to David Jay and Gladys Marie (Hartgrave) Brown. He attended school in Oskaloosa and enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 13, 1940. He was a tank commander with the 113th Calvary Recon Squadron (Red Horse). He served in five campaigns, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe & Germany. He received the Silver Star Medal for heroic action in Germany, the 3rd highest medal awarded, and the Purple Heart Medal because of wounds sustained in Germany. After his discharge, on October 29, 1945, he briefly worked at General Mills in Oskaloosa. Walter found his calling as a carpenter when he worked as an apprentice for John Englehoven. Throughout his career as a carpenter in Oskaloosa, Walter worked with Mackey & Fansher, Ben Dupree, Jim Wolf, and Harold Kelderman. He later worked out of Des Moines and around the mid-west remodeling and building banks. He retired on August 28, 1983. He is a 55-year member of the Carpenters Union Local 106 out of Des Moines and a lifetime VFW member. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, and woodworking. After retirement in 1983, he and Catherine spent six months of the year in California, Texas, or Florida and the other six months in Iowa.
He is survived by several nieces and nephews and a godchild, Scott Fenske of Rochester, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Catherine, on December 26, 2017; five brothers and spouses: Harry, Frank, Albert, Kenneth, and John Brown; and two infant sisters: Kathryn Rosetta and Betty Darlene Brown.
Funeral Services for Walter will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Jon Nelson of Central Church officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery with Military Honors by the Oskaloosa Honor Guard. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m., Monday, at the funeral chapel; the family will greet visitors from 4-6 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the MHP Hospice Serenity House.
