David H. Brown - 78

Foley, Minnesota

November 30, 1933  -  February 5, 2012

David H. Brown, age 78, of Foley, MN, died Sunday February 5, 2012 at his home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 9, 2012 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Morrill, MN. The Rev. Timothy Wenzel will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Foley Funeral Home in Foley and 1 hour before services at church. Parish prayers will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Arrangements were made by the Foley Funeral Home, Foley, MN.

David Brown was born November 30, 1933 in Mt. Morris Twp., Morrison Co., MN to Arthur and Rose (Matvick) Brown. He married Kathleen Wassel September 9, 1958 at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Brennyville, MN. He had lived in Alberta Township most of his life. When David was young, he had a variety of jobs before he finally decided that he wanted to be a truck driver. He began by hauling milk cans to local creameries. In 1963, he began trucking for Rudy Trucking, Sauk Rapids, MN, then for Twin City Freight in St. Cloud, MN. And finally, he drove for Yellow Freight Systems in Sauk Rapids for over 12 years, before he retired in May, 1996. Some of his special interests were spending time with family, playing cards, going to the casino, watching western movies, listening to Old Tyme music, and deer hunting, before health issues brought that hobby to a halt. He was a member of the Teamster's Unions #544, 329 and 120. He was also a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Morrill.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, Foley, MN; sons and daughter, Larry (Julie), Foley; Diane (Jack) Kieffer, Morrill; Roger (LeAnn), Foley; Jerry 'Butch' (Julie), Hillman, MN; Bob (Kim), Sauk Rapids; daughter-in-law, Lisa Brown, Hillman; 12 grandchildren, Jason, Cory and Cierra Brown; Andrew Kieffer; Emily, Abby and Alyssa Brown; Karlee Brown; Justin and Shawna Brown; Nick Brown and Jessica (Josh) Foss and 1 great-granddaughter, Ella Brown; brothers and sisters, Irene (Floyd) Britz, Spring Lake Park, MN; Pat (Don) Schmidtbauer, Hillman; Jim (Lou), Ramey, MN; Judy (Bobby) Mathews, Hillman; John (Bonnie), Hillman; Rose Mary (Donnie) Monson, Hillman; Joan 'Punky' (George) Struffert, Foley; and Debbie (Marty) Hoheisel, Hillman; brother-in-law, Zeno Tomala, Harris, MN; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Rose, son, Mark 'Mick', Feb. 3, 2004, granddaughter, Ashton Kieffer, grandson, Eric Wolfe, brother, Richard, sisters, Mary Ann Byzewski, Janet Tomala and infant sister, Angela; Godchild, Tony A. Schmidtbauer and brother-in-law, Lloyd Byzewski.

David's family wants to thank Dr. Steve Reichl for his care and concern for David for many years, as well as the staff at Centra Care and St. Cloud Hospital Hospice; especially Diane, RN and the other staff at St. Cloud Hospice who were always there to help out with David's care. A special thanks for Dr. Andrew Leroy from St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester for his special care and concern.