Daniel Brown

Daniel Carl Brown, 91, of Shelby Township, Michigan, passed away September 23, 2021. He was born to Meta (Heinzelman) Brown and Orlo Brown on January 29, 1930, in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was baptized into the Lord’s family at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids and was confirmed at the same church. He completed his elementary and high school education in Grand Rapids, and during his last year in high school joined the US Navy Reserves. He continued with the USNR during his first semester in college at Idaho University, but in 1949 enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He served active duty with the Marines from 1950 through 1952, including 1 year spent in Korea during the Korean Conflict. He was promoted from Private to Sergeant in the 105th Howitzer Battalion. Daniel was honorably discharged in 1952 and resumed his education initially at Grand Rapids Junior College, and then earned his Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1958.

On December 15, 1952, Daniel married Yvonne (Bonnie) Wood, also of Grand Rapids, at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Over the next several years, Dan and Bonnie’s family grew, and as he finished his education, he also worked at a variety of jobs including as a draftsman for General Motors, a dock hand for Doyle Freight Co., a mechanic at the Post Office garage, a lab assistant in the Bacteriology Department at the University of Michigan, and as a research assistant and junior engineer in the U of M Engineering Department. Upon graduation, Dan’s first job was with the Astronautics Division of General Dynamics in San Diego, California. After 2 years, he secured a job with Chrysler Corporation, which at the time was providing support to NASA in the early days of the “Space Race.” Dan worked at the Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama, first with the Redstone launch vehicles that powered the Mercury space flights, and then in development of the Saturn V rockets that launched astronauts to the moon in the late 1960s, perhaps the most significant technological achievement of the 20th century. Chrysler Corp. withdrew their support of NASA in the late 60’s, and so Dan and Bonnie made their last move to Rochester, Michigan, where Dan began working for Chrysler in the automotive industry. In total, he was employed by Chrysler for 32 years, capping his career as the supervising engineer in the eventual development of a full-size wind tunnel on the Auburn Hills campus of the Chrysler Technology Center. After retirement, Dan and Bonnie enjoyed several years of travel, including trips to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, until Bonnie’s death in June 2003. Over the past eighteen years, though his travels became reduced in frequency and distance, Dan’s adventurous spirit went abroad with the successive generations of his family.

Dan and Bonnie were blessed with five children: two daughters – Kathleen (Fred) Dick and

Karen (Garry) Howard, and three sons – Michael (Diane), David (Marie) and Dan (Jackie). In 1979 Dan and Bonnie welcomed into their home Savon (Chan) Tieng, a refugee from Cambodia. He lived with them for 3 years, learning the language and customs of our country, and he remains an ‘adopted’ son and brother. In all Dan and Bonnie had sixteen grandchildren: Elisabeth (Jonathan) Burdick, Carlen (Ed) Hagenkotter, Stephen (Nina) Dick, Jeremy(Alexandra) Fredrickson, Justin Brown, Jesse Brown, Kevin (Lenore) Brown, Eric Brown, Brian

(Julianne) Brown, Amy (Brandon) Briggs, Rebecca Brown, Erin (Jeremy) Brown, Olivia Brown, Paula (Donny) Crock, Judy (Eliezer) Sagansay, and Leakena Tieng. Great-grandchildren number 18, including Abbie, Thane, and Sarah Burdick; Hudson Garmon; Edwin, Raphael, Freya, and Mirko Dick; Mathew Tieng; Liliana, Jadia, and Aliya Crock; Jaiden Ployhngam and Abigail and Isla Sagansay; Eloise Briggs; Josephine Brown; and Evelyn Brown; with more on the way! This progeny has spread across the globe, from Shanghai, China, to Auckland, New Zealand, and including the States of California, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan.

In addition to his family and career, Daniel willingly gave his time and treasure to the Church. From San Diego to Huntsville and then to Rochester, the number of roles he played in the establishment of programs, building of facilities, and governance of the various churches is astonishing. The positions he was most proud of include Sunday School teacher and superintendent, Youth Group advisor, Treasurer, Board of Stewardship and Finance (Holy Cross, San Diego), Constitution Committee member and chairman, Board of Education member and chairman, Building Committee (Grace, Huntsville), PTL member and president, Lutheran High School Association member and delegate, Synodical Convention delegate, Stephen

Ministry member, facilitator, and leader, Board of Elders member and chairman, Board of Social Ministry, Refugee Committee, Constitution Committee, Boy Scouts and Cub Scout Council.

Dan’s long life was conspicuous for his strong work ethic and willingness to serve others, from his childhood years, through his military service, and into his later devotion to the Lutheran Church. He also had a ready smile and was quick to laugh, even if the joke was on him. Dan had a beautiful singing voice, loved to dance, and enjoyed almost all kinds of music, especially jazz and big band music from the 40s and 50s. He was also athletic and participated in many sports when younger. As he aged, he hung up the boxing gloves, softball bat, and tennis racquet, and put his golf clubs to good use every weekend he could. Dan also enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren give it their all on the field, court, or track. He alternately cheered or grimaced at the vagaries of Detroit professional sports and the Wolverine football team. In quieter hours, he was a voracious reader, and he was especially expert in the history of the Civil War.

Daniel was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother James, and by his beloved wife of 50 years, Bonnie. Despite those sorrows, in his later years he was cheerful every day, especially if he was visited by any member of his extended family.

For his children, sons and daughters-in -law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, Daniel’s life was an example of devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ, his family, his friends, and those less fortunate than him. We will all dearly miss him, but his fervent hope for all of us is summed up in the Preamble to his Last Will and Testament. In Daniel’s own words:

“I ask that those I leave behind share in the joy I have found in Christ, my Savior. I am totally convinced by the promises of God’s Word that after this earthly life, I will share an eternity with Him in Heaven. This is possible, not because I have earned or deserved it, but because Jesus died for my sin and by his grace, alone, I now stand justified in God’s sight.

“I leave those who survive me the comfort of knowing that I have died in this faith and have joined my Lord in eternal glory.

“I commend my loved ones to the gracious care of God, knowing that He will continue to provide for them as He cared for me during my lifetime, and I entreat them to remain faithful to Him until the day we are reunited for all eternity.

“In gratitude to God, I execute this document as my last earthly “THANK YOU” for the working of His Spirit in my life, His Word which has sustained me, the ministry He has allowed me to share, and for the blessing of a loving wife and family which have brought me such joy during my life on earth. May God’s rich love fill each of them with His comfort and peace.”

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be given to the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Detroit, or the Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.