William Charles "Bill" Brown, age 86, of Grinnell, passed away Friday, December 23, 2016 at the Gove County Medical Center, Quinter, with his family present at his side.  He was born September 25, 1930 in Beloit to William Clarence and Clara May (File) Brown.  He was a veteran of the Kansas Army National Guard and Departmental Manager with CO-OP Union Mercantile of Grinnell.  Bill married Barbara Anne Neifert on April 10, 1955 at the Christian Church in Glen Elder.

Bill and Barbara moved to Grinnell in 1958.  They raised their sons in the Grinnell school system.  Along with being involved with many community activities, Bill was a scout master, baseball coach for Pee Wee and K-18 baseball teams, and loved K-State sports.  He enjoyed attending Masonic Lodge and Shriner's events, playing golf, building and flying remote control airplanes, carpentry, farming, and taking care of the Grinnell Township Cemetery.  While serving in the Kansas Army National Guard, he retired as Lt. Colonel after 41 years of service and was a lifetime member of Wheatland V.F.W. Post 2864, Grinnell.

Bill was a member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church, Isis Shrine Temple and Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Salina, Logan County Shrine Club, Oakley Masonic Lodge #253, Treasurer for the Shriners of Logan County, Grinnell Township Cemetery, United Methodist Church of Grinnell, and also was very involved in the Compassionate Consultation Initiative Project (CCIP) Zimbabwe, Inc.

Bill loved his KSU "Wildcats" and spent many an afternoon rooting for his team and supported his alma mater in many ways.

Preceded in death by his parents, William and Clara, his son, Sgt. Jerry Dean Brown (1998), and a brother, Richard Brown.

Survivors:  his wife, Barbara of the home, four sons:  William C. (Diane) of Hays, David L. (Kimberly) of Rose Hill, Dana E. of Hurst, TX, and Bradley J. of Farmers Branch, TX, brothers:  Robert (Dorothy) of Topeka and Loren (Jean) of Bonner Springs, four grandchildren:  Cody Brown, Sierra Brown, Eric Brown, and Staci Brown, and a great grandson, Skyler Brown.

Funeral service:  2:00 p.m. Friday, December 30, 2016 at Immaculate Conception Church Parish Center, Grinnell, with Pastor Michael Brown and Pastor Kennedy Mukwadidza officiating.  Visitation:  5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 29 and 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Friday, at the Church Parish Center, Grinnell.  Family will receive friends from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Military Honors and Masonic Rites following the funeral service.  Private inurnment by family will be at a later date at the Grinnell Township Cemetery.  Memorials:  Shriners Hospital for Children, K-State Marching Band Memorial Fund, Grinnell United Methodist Church, and Gove County Medical Center, Quinter in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley 67748.  Condolences: www.kennedykosterfh.com