Kenneth W. Brown

"Downtown Kenny Brown" was a hometown musician who was born into a musical family. In his early years he played the guitar and sang gospel music with his parents, sharing his talent with inmates and locals around Kansas and Nebraska. After high school, he started his career in country music traveling the U.S. with the bands Prairie Swing and Country Edition. In the late 80's he found a love for the blues and played locally with bands such as Kiefer Madness and the Kenny Brown Band, and opened shows for the likes of Robert Cray, Bugs Henderson and Koko Taylor.

Kenny also enjoyed fishing and sharing stories of his time in the Air Force where he served during the Vietnam War.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jerilynn Brown; and sister Doneta; and is survived by children Kristine (Scott) and Jessica; grandchildren, Morgan, McKenna, Danielle, Bob and Savannah; and sister, Joyce and brother, Bob.

Kenny was also preceded by his former wife, Shelba Cole Kruse; and is also survived by their two children, Gretchen (James) and Marshal (Megan) as well as two grandchildren, Gabe and Charley.

Kenny's Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 8th at the Road House, 3813 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67219, where he was the opening band for its debut in 1977 as The Coyote Club and the last band to play there in 1993 before it became the Road House. Doors open at 11 a.m., with ceremony at 11:30 a.m., and lunch from 12-2 p.m.

In Lieu of Flowers: Kenneth Brown Memorial Fund: Kansas Honor Flight

In 2018 Kenny’s roommate and “Air Force buddy” John Ekstromer were granted a Kansas Honor Flight to visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. where they “lived high on the hog” staying in a hotel and being escorted around the city. In lieu of flowers please send tax-deductible donations to Kansas Honor Flight, where our goal is to raise $900, the cost to send 1 veteran on a trip in Kenny’s honor. Donate online through the website at www.kansashonorflight.org and in the comments type “Kenneth Brown Memorial Fund”. Or, mail a check to Kansas Honor Flight, PO Box 2371, Hutchinson, KS 67504. Please put “Kenneth Brown Memorial Fund” in the note section.

Our hearts are filled with sadness, but we are smiling and comforted at the thought of Kenny finally at peace and in the arms of the love of his life, Jeri.