Robert Lee Brown, 90, Topeka
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Robert Lee Brown,
TOPEKA – Robert Lee Brown, 90, of Topeka passed away Saturday January 21, 2023, surrounded by his loving wife and children at Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park, Kansas. He was four days from reaching his 91st birthday. His failing heart took him away from the world and his loving heart left a beacon of light for his family and friends.
Bob was born January 25, 1932. He was the second of four sons born to William C. and Clara Mae File Brown in Beloit, Kansas. The family lived in Beloit until he was age five. He started kindergarten at the age of four at Rodger's School in Beloit.
The family moved to a farm four and a half miles north of Beloit when he was five years old. As a young boy he helped on the farm. His mornings began with milking the cows, then walking two and a half miles to Mulberry Country School. He was a 1949 graduate of Beloit High School. While in high school, he participated in football, track, and FFA. Between school and farming he still found time to work behind the soda counter at S & SDrug Store. Following high school, he enrolled in Brown Mackie Business School in Salina.
Bob served his country during the Korean Conflict. He completed basic training at Camp Pendleton, California and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps. on August 28, 1953, in Hastings, Nebraska. Following his time in the Marines he returned to Beloit and joined a custom combine crew cutting wheat from Oklahoma to North Dakota. He spent time in Washington state cutting timber then working on the railroad in Sacramento, California. He returned to Beloit and began working at Beloit Motor Company in the service department, later becoming the parts manager. Bob was also the youngest person to be the Commander of the VFW in Beloit, Bob married Dorothy Lee Prellwitz on December 1, 1957, at the First Presbyterian Church in Beloit, Bob and Dorothy celebrated their 65th anniversary in 2022. To this union were born three children, Robert Jr., Becki, and Kevin. Bob continued to work at Beloit Motor Company until 1964 when he moved his family to Pratt, Kansas and later to Topeka where he worked for Van-T Chevrolet, Kent-Brown Chevrolet and Vic Yarrington Oldsmobile. As a salesman, Bob won many awards and retired in 1998. In retirement, Bob enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He and his wife, Dorothy, loved traveling throughout the country taking long car trips. Bob taught his family the importance of hard work, a positive attitude, attention to detail, and the value of personal finance and investment.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, William C. and Clara Brown and two brothers, William and Richard Brown.
Bob is survived by his wife Dorothy; sons, Bob Jr. (Lana) of Houston, Texas, and Kevin (Nicole) Overland Park; daughter, Becki (Evan) Yoder of Peabody, Kansas; grandchildren, Alan (Julie) Yoder, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Aaron Yoder, Lindsborg, Kansas, Dan Yoder, Dodge City, Kansas, Jacob (Rylee) Yoder, Peabody, Kansas, Alex (Tori) Brown, Manhattan, Kansas, Zachary Brown, Overland Park, Spencer Brown, Overland Park, Ross Moody, Houston, Jackie Moody, Houston; great-grandchildren, Ryker, Tanynn, Asher and Archer Yoder, Luna, Scarlett, and Tristan Yoder; and his brother Loren (Jean) of Bonner Springs, Kansas.
Funeral service will be 11 am. Friday, January 27, 2023, at Mount Hope Chapel, 4700 SW 17th St, Topeka, KS 66604, where visitation will start at 10:30 am. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery with military honors.