Tom Brown

Thomas Wayne Brown, age 90, of Hershey, NE, passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at Centennial Park Retirement Village.

Tom, the oldest of five children, was born June 11, 1926, to Marion and Mary Brown at Sutherland, NE, and grew up on the family farm south of Sutherland. He attended country school during the Great Depression so getting back and forth was a lot of work. The family eventually moved to a new dryland farm closer to town and school, and with perseverance and determination, survived the drought and depression.

After graduating from 8th grade in a class of two, Tom moved in with his grandparents at the Applegate farm so he could easily attend Sutherland High School. By 1941 the rest of the Brown family had moved to this farm as well. Tom graduated from high school in 1943 then joined the U.S. Army in 1945, serving as an M.P. for nearly two years. During the late 1940's, Tom attended the University of Nebraska. While in Lincoln he worked for a funeral home, driving the ambulance, and worked a couple summers as a combine operator during the wheat harvest from Canada to Oklahoma.

In June 1950 Tom graduated from college then returned to the Hershey area to begin farming for himself and did so his entire life. He loved farming and soil conservation, and promoted the National Farmer Organization (NFO).

On March 26, 1954, Tom was united in marriage to Ruth Lorraine Carlson in Denver, CO. They lived on the Brown farm and had five children during their 62 years of marriage.

Tom was an active in the Hershey community, serving on the School Board, belonging to the Antique Tractor Club and was announcer for the Tractor Pull at the Fall Festival. He was a member of Maria Lutheran Church, charter member and Past President of the Hershey Lions Club, and member of the Sierra Club, which he also served as Lincoln County and State President. He was also member of the Order of the Golden Star, Theta XI Fraternity and Alpha Epsilon 200 from which he received his 50 year pin in 1993. Tom was Treasurer for Nebraska Holistic Resource Management and the Hershey Cooperative Telephone Company, and was active in many conservation organizations. In 1996 he was awarded the Keith Neville Democratic Memorial Award.

Aside from his work on the farm, Tom had a passion for researching the family history. He was able to trace his family roots prior to the War of Independence and to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Because of his genealogical efforts, October 29, 1997, was declared "Tom Brown Day" in Butler County, KY.

Tom leaves behind his wife, Ruth, of Hershey; children, Amy (Steven) Fleecs, of Sutherland, and Eric (Jacqueline) Brown and Scot (Susie) Brown, of Hershey; daughter-in-law, Tammy Brown, of Sutherland; 10 grandchildren, Matthew (Rebecca) Fleecs, Amber (Brian) Cross, Rachel (Matthew) Person, Jordan Brown, Chelsea Brown, Erin Brown, Erica Brown, Logan Brown, Skyler Brown and Chloe Brown; 6 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert 'Bob' (Della) Brown, of Hershey and James (Kay) Brown, of Plattsmouth, NE; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.

He was preceded in death by his infant son, David Douglas, and son, John Thomas; parents, Marion and Mary; and sisters, Georgia Martin and Lucille Say.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 26, 2016, at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey with Pastor Erin Dunlavy officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Sutherland Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Maria Lutheran Church.