Douglas Brown

Douglas B. Brown 'Bart' age 82, of Oconomowoc, passed away on Sunday, March 20, 2011 surrounded by family at AngelsGrace Hospice. Son of Clarence W. and Irma Brown (nee Connor), he was born in Fargo, North Dakota on January 25, 1929 and lived in Decorah, Iowa; St. Paul, Minnesota and Omaha, Nebraska before moving to Oconomowoc, Wisconsin during the summer of 1936. Bart is survived by his children Debra (Dr. Robert) Krieger of Hartland, WI; Diana (Bruce) Huibregtse of Madison, WI and Scott (Jenny) Brown of Minneapolis, MN, grandchildren Gretchen Krieger, Eliott Krieger, William Krieger, Jamie Huibregtse, Brooke Huibregtse, Morgan Huibregtse, Kyle Brown, Jackie Brown and Emma Brown, brother Bruce (Jo) Brown of Oconomowoc, WI, special friend Lucille Bendfelt of Oconomowoc, WI, ex-wife Marilyn Brown, along with other relatives and friends. Bart was preceded in death by his second wife Janet E. Brown and sister Nancy Johnson of Fort Collins, CO. Funeral services for Bart will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 209 W. Wisconsin Ave, Oconomowoc, WI. Visitation for family and friends will be from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Interment will be at LaBelle Cemetery in Oconomowoc, WI following the service. Memorials are suggested to Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund or to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Oconomowoc, WI. Bart was a 1946 graduate of Oconomowoc High School. He served in the US Army during the Korean War. After serving his country he returned to Oconomowoc to work for his father at the Oconomowoc Enterprise. He won many state and some national honors for his sports pages as well as for his photography. During his leadership as editor, the Enterprise earned many top state awards for General Excellence. Bart retired after 53 years with the company. He was active in all aspects of the community. Bart was the first chairman to exceed the goal as head of the Oconomowoc Area United Way Fund Drive. He was president of many organizations including the Oconomowoc Kiwanis Club which he was a member of for over 50 years, the Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund, the Oconomowoc Breakfast Toastmasters Club (he won the club’s “speaker of the year” award three years in a row) and a School Board Lay Advisory Committee. Bart directed the Oconomowoc Methodist Church choir for nearly 20 years and remained a member until his health forced him out. He served his church in other capacities including church attendance every week. He even wrote and published the church’s monthly newsletter with the help of his wife, Janet. Bart touched the hearts of all who knew him. He will be deeply missed and forever in the hearts of those who loved him.