JC Brown

Not long after his birth on February 20, 1957, JC Brown looked up at his brothers and parents, with a bright blue-eyed gleam and smiled. At the time, his mother Helen and father Ivan remarked at the rather mischievous character of that smile. It became his trademark. Throughout his life, JC exhibited an uncanny capacity to stir laughter and joy in the lives of his family, friends and associates. Whether it was his lifelong passion for golf, which included a 25-year stint as Golf Course Superintendent at Mill Creek Country Club in Salado, Texas, or the past 15 years playing golf with his buddies at Staley Farms Golf Club in Kansas City, Missouri, or his characteristic, playful nature with siblings and friends, JC shared his passion for mischief. One friend, Marci Fahrenkrog, remembered a particular band practice in Hartley High School, when JC set off a firecracker in the drum set he played, causing raucous mayhem in the orchestra pit and frenzied baton twirling by band master Jim Schroeder. Quite often his own clown-like misbehavior caused personal pain, including the boisterous laughter of everyone listening to him retell those stories, though it somewhat perplexed him why people thought his misdeeds were so funny. JC lived a life full of joy, whether it was on the golf course, at home grilling a steak, or at the casino throwing a pair of dice.

Perhaps it was his tendency to ogle that caused the demise of three marriages, but it could also have been those women tired of his antics and coming home late from a long day working. JC knew how to work, just like his brothers Gene and Doug who learned the importance of hard work from their father, Ivan E. Brown, MD and mother Helen Brown. Though he never had children of his own, he did help raise several among his marriages, however admitting he probably wasn’t the best equipped to father children. JC’s real love was golf, which he played with a passion, nearly every day after his retirement at the age of 52. Among his cherished memories are several holes-in-one and shooting below par at a few tournaments routinely played at Staley Farms. His muscle memory for hitting a golf ball, admired by all, didn’t translate into putting however. He liked to think that is where he choked. His brother Gene nicknamed him Scarf when they played marathon craps in Las Vegas because JC hesitated to place his bets. Dealers typically participated in the brothers’ banter when they heard them calling each other names like Meeeester Jenkins and BILL!

Near the time of his graduation from Hartley High School in 1975 in Hartley, Iowa, JC broke his neck in a car accident. Orthopedic neurosurgeons at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota performed an incredible surgical procedure to restore JC’s functionality, but it required him wearing a halo body cast throughout the summer. During that time, Gene’s best friend Richard Potter adopted JC as a little brother. Together, Gene, Richard and JC played Cribbage every day and frequently went to the golf course so JC could at least putt around. That fall JC started school at the University of South Dakota where Gene was finishing his senior year, and his father had previously graduated before going to medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. The great outdoors beckoned however so JC started working in the landscaping business. With his parent’s encouragement, JC attempted another stint at the University of Iowa, only to find the lure of love and the great outdoors a bigger motivator.

JC grew up in the small town of Hartley where everyone knew his name, especially the older girls who, attracted to his animal magnetism, often chauffeured him to middle school just so they got an early morning dose of his lascivious grin before going to their high school classes. His two older brothers just looked on with envy. It was this attraction that made him the perfect candidate to inherit our Uncle George’s role, playing Santa Claus at the family Swedish Smorgasbords every Christmas. Nicolai and Kylia (children of Gene and Janet) and Christiana and Ryan (children of Doug and Joan) marveled at the Ho-Ho-Ho and jolly good Christmas cheer of JC slurping down a martini while distributing gifts from his big red bag to the kids. Much later, and after he stopped drinking alcohol in 2005, he continued playing Santa Claus for Miles, Ruby and Jack (children of Kylia and Matt), first in Kansas City and later in Marblehead, Massachusetts. As a 15-year resident of Kansas City, JC acquired a deep affection for the Chiefs, even adopting the nickname Wolf, not because of the Chiefs’ mascot KC Wolf, but rather because he consumed food like a ravenous wolf.

Hard work defined JC’s life just as much as his joy for pranks. While working as Superintendent of the Mill Creek Country Club, JC launched Wonderland, a premier landscaping business that served clients throughout the central Texas hill country. At the same time, he joined brothers Doug and Gene in starting Hartley Homes and then later Brown Development with brother Gene. He remained proud of the growth of Brownmed in Spirit Lake, Iowa where he served on the Board of Directors for many years. JC liked to think his hard work and ingenuity at creating magnificent landscaping pleased his parents. More than that, he honored their memory with his decency, honor and trust he built with customers.

On August 12, 2026, James Clarence Brown died from complications due to lung cancer after a life-time of smoking cigarettes. Though cancer took his life, nothing could wipe away his signature smile, mischievous gleam and boisterous laugh. JC was predeceased by his parents Ivan and Helen Brown, his Great Uncle George and Aunt Lillian Armstrong and his older brother Russell, the third son of his father’s first marriage. He is survived by his siblings Gene (Meridee) in Scottsdale, Arizona, Doug (Joan) in Arnold’s Park, Iowa, Nancy Strayer (Dan) in Georgetown, Randy also in Georgetown, Texas, Kent (Margie) in Yuma, Arizona and Tom (Suzi) in Nashville, Tennessee. JC will be long remembered by his family and friends. Though JC requested no services, we are planning a mischievous night celebrating this wonderful brother and friend. RSVP to Gene at [email protected] for Friday, September 25, 2026 from 5 to 8 pm. Food provided with cash bar. Location: Staley Farms Golf Club, 10310 N. Olive Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64155. Dress is golf casual.