Condolences
My sincere condolences to the entire Family. Don truly exemplified the word “gentleman”. I was privileged to call him Coach my Sophomore year and had Coach as a teacher in at least one class as well. He taught me basketball but more important discipline, civility and respect for those around me and myself. Truly a huge influence. Certainly any of the good things I have been able to do in life can be traced back in no small part to my experiences with Coach. Sending love and prayers. Mike Frantz
Dear Brown Family,
So sorry to hear of the passing of your loved one.
Remembering a wonderful man with a great smile.
Prayers to all of you.
Celeste and Dave Vincent
Mark and Family,
Please accept my sincere condolences on Don's passing. I enjoyed meeting your family and getting to know Dea and Don. Mark, this photo of Don is the best tribute I have ever seen! And I know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree so to speak. Don's joy, energy and kindness lives on in you. Blessings from the Coggon girl.
So sorry to hear about Don Brown passing. Don was a teacher and coached baseball and basketball in Durant Iowa. Took me many years to feel comfortable calling Don anything other than Coach Brown or Mr. Brown. Was fortunate to be able to attend Don and Dea’s wedding. I will always remember him as Coach Brown. He was a good coach, teacher and person. Coach Brown and Dea will be missed. Our sympathies to the Brown family.
Coach Brown was not only a "gentleman coach" but a mentor to many young people at City High. I considered it an honor to have been coached by him and taught so many ways of building up people, develop leadership in others, and showing care and compassion to every player. I can still him saying, "Gentlemen, you have one chance, every moment, to do your best and I know I will see your best out there!"
I used many of his teachings about crafting young men into leaders in both my coaching and academic career.
My thoughts and prayers with the family, but know Don was a fantastic man!
Mark..Brent and families...so sorry to hear of Don's passing. We annoyed having Don and Dea as neighbors for 27+ years...great stories..emaculate lawn...Don and Dea sitting out in driveway having a beer...always ready for a conversation...they loved are dogs...always ready to give them scratches or rubs...the dogs loved them too...we would have to cross street to say hello...great people..
Don and Dea are together again..the way it should be...may they rest in peace...Brett & Katy Lincoln..Matt and Sam
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Brown. The Browns lived down the street from me when I was a kid. I always saw Mr. & Mrs. Brown as a gorgeous power couple. They were always friendly, kind and positive.
As a student at Iowa City High School, I was impressed by Mr. Brown's powerful bearing. His voice was also powerful and commanded respect. Mr. Brown made lives better and will be totally missed.
I send love and condolences to Mark, Brent and your families.
Mark/Brent: I'll be eternally grateful to you Dad for allowing me to help him with the City High boy's golf program in 2001. He saw enough in me to recommend me for the Head position when he retired. Eventually' I was named the Head coach of both the boy's & girl's programs. Coaching at City High lead to me being named to the Iowa High School Golf Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.
If your Dad hadn't asking ed to me help, none of this would have happened.
Rest in Peace Coach!!
Jerry Hora
My sincere condolences to the entire Brown family. Don was a true gentleman and professional at all times. He was an incredible role-model and mentor to so many. I was so fortunate to coach with Don, and see his many talents first hand.
Rest in peace, Don.
Coach Brown was my golf coach from 1997-2000. He was so much more than a coach. He was a mentor, a role model, and a friend. He was one of the most authentic individuals I have ever met. Rest In Peace Coach.
As a '77 City High grad, I can honestly say Don Brown was one of the few educators & coaches in high school that had a profound impact on my life. DB was a solid, upright guy - who had expectations of success in the classroom and on the court that you wanted to achieve. Taught me about the principle of working hard & never settling. Very sad he is gone, but glad that he is now reunited with his much beloved wife. Sympathy and condolences to his sons --- you had a fine dad!
I had Mr. Brown as a history teacher and later taught in the social studies department for 10 years. He inspired me to chose social studies. He was a great teacher, coach, family man and friend. My sympathy and blessings to his family for their loss.
I clearly remember Mr. Brown's social studies class at City High in the mid-'70s. He had a strong voice and a commanding manner, yet he was also fair, and patient within reason. He had control of his classroom from the first day, and no tough student or "hood" messed with him. Remarkably, he seemed to learn all his students' names exceptionally quickly. His lessons were organized and extremely clear, and his tests were comprehensive and reasonably demanding. I saw how well he worked with his student teacher during that term. Finally, he always erased his chalkboard completely, leaving no trace of what had been there. I will always remember him as a good, fair, and challenging teacher.
Mark and Brent, Conversations with your dad were always educational and entertaining at the same time. I have great memories of him from growing up in the neighborhood through high school. Later in life it was still enjoyable to see him occasionally around town. Jeff Murrah
Condolences to the whole Brown family. Coach Brown was such a wonderful man. I specifically remember him leading us in the “We are the Little Hawks” cheer as we rode the bus back into town on Dubuque Street!
My condolences to Mark and Brent and their families. Your father was a great teacher; I still remember some of his lessons in European history.
Saddened to hear of the passing of Don R. Brown. (His name must be written that way, as he always did.) He had a generous but competitive heart. Loyal and devoted to family, teaching and community. Coach Brown had high expectations and they made better people out of his athletes and students.
Growing up in First United Methodist Church, Mr & Mrs Brown were family friends, neighbors to my aunt/uncle and leaders at church. They were a strong example of faith, family and support of mission work. Always with a smile and heartfelt greeting.
My deepest sympathies to his family. May you find comfort that your parents are reunited for eternity. And may your many happy memories bring you peace.
I graduated from City High in 1975. I honestly can't remember which sports Don was coaching back then. Most likely Basketball along with roles in football and who knows what else. Don was indeed a very good coach. He had, above all, the patience to work with kids of all skill levels and could help motivate those who had difficulty visualizing their potential. Thank you Don for the wonderful memories from ICHS so long ago. May you rest in eternal peace.
