David "Dave" Leo Brown, age 91, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2019 in Colorado Springs. He was born on September 13, 1928 in Hamburg, Iowa to Wade Ainsley and Julia Mina (Melton) Brown. Neither he nor his mother were expected to survive his birth. David was a problem solver- innovator - entrepreneur - successful businessman. But above all this David was a loving, nurturing husband and father whose love for Jesus was displayed daily in his acts of caring and listening - putting others first - offering help to all those in need of help - whether family or stranger, he would find a way to bring comfort and ease the burden of those around him.
Born on a farm into a share-cropper family on the brink of the Great Depression, David was the first of six brothers and sisters. Growing up near the banks of the Missouri River in southwest Iowa, the family endured hardships shared by many due to floods and poor crops. He worked the fields with his father at a very early age using horses and eventually a tractor. He attended first grade to eighth grade in Hamburg, Thurman and Nebraska City. David only graduated the eighth grade and continued farming and working full time to help support the family. He was baptized by his Uncle Earl Melton in the very same Missouri River that was both a blessing and a curse.
At age 19 he became a truck driver. He and his future brother-in-law John Rosentrater were hauling new cars from Detroit to Denver and surrounding western states as far as California. It was 1949 when he was introduced to his wife to be Marian Herman in Colorado Springs. David and Marian were married January 28, 1951 and settled in Knob Hill when Union Blvd. was just a dirt street. He worked for Meadow Gold Dairy on a wholesale route that included Manitou, Woodland Park, Cripple Creek and Lake George. David and Marian started their family in late 1952 with the arrival of Gloria. Then unexpectedly at age 26 he was drafted into the Army where he served two years from 1955 until 1957 at Ft. Carson. It was during this time that the family grew with the birth of Allyn. Upon being discharged, he returned to Meadow Gold.
Through the years David always worked countless part-time jobs in addition to his full time regular jobs just to make ends meet. In 1961, he took a job at Ready Mix Corporation - first as a driver - then opening their building materials division - then salesman - and ultimately become operations manager. In 1963, David constructed their home on Southmoor Drive with the help of Marian who even helped pour the foundation. Around 1969, he opened Brown's Precast as a part-time side business where he employed Gloria and Allyn. But it was in 1976 when things really changed. Robert Osborne sold Ready Mix and invited David to join him in a new career to be filled with a number of great opportunities and adventures. David jumped at the chance, never looked back and the rest is history. He did so by opening Dave Brown Construction in 1977.
Together Robert and David supplied concrete for the construction of a 160 mile electrical transmission power line crossing northern Colorado and Wyoming from the eastern plains through the mountains west of Steamboat Springs. They got a job installing wheel-chair lifts into 153 Denver RTD buses. They produced and sold architectural aggregates used across the country. For years they were contracted to Colorado Springs Utilities hauling fly ash and sludge. Together they completed several Army Corp of Engineer projects at Ft. Carson and Montrose Airport.
At the same time he was doing all this, Dave Brown Construction was building custom homes. He also built the balcony in Trinity Nazarene with its inaugural use hosting a Blackwood Brothers concert attended by about 1,200 people in the sanctuary & balcony. David also completed two town homes projects, built two restaurants and two auto body shops. His business expanded more into general contracting where he oversaw the development of neighborhoods containing nearly 2,000 lots. In 1994 he and Marian constructed their dream home for retirement where they have resided for the last 25 years. He was a proud member of the Colorado Springs Home Builder Association and was a lifetime spike member.
Working on David's jobs were synonymous with his blazing red pick-up pulling up on the job site loaded with Dunkin Donuts and Pepsis for all the workers. Some of his greatest achievements were the play houses and the fort play structures he built for the grand and great-grand kids.
In their early years of marriage, David and Marian attended the First Free Methodist Church. In 1978, they found and joined Trinity Church of the Nazarene where they have been faithful members for the last 41 years. David served as a Board member, an usher, and with Marian as greeters.
David is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years Marian; daughter Gloria Philipsen and son Allyn (Jeanette) Brown; grandchildren Carole (Joe) Hamlin, Scott (Yvonne) Brown, Emily Brown and Chris (Heather) Swayne - his "adopted" grandson; six great-grandchildren Ashley and Tyler Hamlin, Titus and Sarai Brown, and Rowan and Elizabeth Swayne; and many nieces and nephews. Others who survive him include sister Lena (Dwaine) Randel of Miltonvale, KS, brother Dale (Sharon) Brown of West Plains, MO, brother-in-law George (Margaret) Herman of Scottsdale, AZ, and Dee Swayne, along with other friends. David was preceded in death by his parents, younger brothers Oakley and Lyle, and sister Lilah Hughes.
There will be a viewing on November 17 from 2 pm until 4 pm at the Swan Law Funeral Home 501 N. Cascade Ave. The funeral service will be held on November 18, 2019 at Trinity Church of the Nazarene, 5055 El Camino Drive, Colorado Springs, with Pastor John Prichard officiating, followed by a reception in the Church. Prior to the funeral service, a viewing will be available at 10 am at the Church. Burial will follow in the afternoon at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in David's name to Trinity Church of the Nazarene - www.trinitynazarene.net.
David will be missed by many, but his love of family and friends will always be a comfort to those who were touched by him. Perhaps the best tribute was made by grandson Joe who told him "Grandpa - thank you for your unconditional love. You taught me (and all of us) what unconditional love is."
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