Fond du Lac remembers Gordon Brown for love of communication, service
Episcopal News Service. June 14, 2010 [061410-03]
Pat McCaughan
Gordon Eige Brown, editor of the Clarion, monthly newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac, died unexpectedly June 4 at his home in Menasha, Wisconsin.
Brown, 63, who was active in parish and diocesan ministries for more than 40 years, had suffered from Parkinson's Disease but died of a heart attack, according to diocesan administrator Matthew Payne.
"He was always willing to serve others," Payne said in a June 14 telephone interview from his Appleton, Wisconsin, diocesan office. "He especially wanted to make sure people knew what was going on, so his involvement usually dealt with some form of communication. He appreciated words."
Brown was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Appleton, which recently celebrated the centennial anniversary of its building. Brown "took the lead on doing the research for historical purposes and because of his background in publishing he put together seven or eight scrapbooks that are still at the church, with photos," Payne added.
He became Clarion editor last November; he had retired July 31, 2007 from Lawrence University in Appleton. He joined the college in 1995 as university editor, overseeing production of Lawrence Today, the university course catalog, and many other institutional publications. He also was instrumental in the development of an early edition of Lawrence's website.
He was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on July 27, 1946, son of the late Gilbert and Maxine Eige Brown. He was a 1964 graduate of Marshalltown High School and received his bachelor's degree in political science from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, in 1968.
On August 24, 1968, he married Simpson student Christine James in her hometown of Auburn, Maine. While at Simpson, Gordon began his career in higher education as writer, editor and publisher, moving from editor of the student newspaper to editor of the Simpson College Alumnus following graduation.
He also served as editor of the Grinnell Magazine (1971-77) at Grinnell College in Iowa, and was the director of communications at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, for 16 years before joining the Lawrence University staff. He was a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
An avid reader and amateur photographer, Gordon also served as a docent for the Experimental Aircraft Association at its museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Active in the Episcopal Church for many years, he also served on the advisory board of the Hands of Christ Deaf Ministry. His last act of service was to donate his body to the University of Wisconsin at Madison Medical School.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years; a daughter, Lyndsey, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania; a son, Matthew; a sister and a brother.
A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 100 N. Drew Street, Appleton, Wisconsin, with Fr. Patrick Twomey officiating.
Memorials may be directed to the Wisconsin Parkinson Association, 945 North 12th Street, Suite 4002, Milwaukee, WI 53233 or online here.