Earl Brown was born on April 14, 1937 at Imperial, Nebraska. He was the oldest of five children born to Walter and Naomia Reynolds Brown. He attended country school and later Chase County High School, graduating in 1956. Earl enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1960 and served until his honorable discharge in 1964.

While in the service, Earl was married to Karen Werner of Grant at the Lincoln Air Force Base Chapel on September 18, 1960. Three children were born to this union. After his discharge Earl and Karen moved to Grant where he lived the rest of his life. Earl worked for Gifford Hill Irrigation and the Keith County Co-op but the majority of his working years were for the Grant Co-op where he retired from in 2002.

Earl had been in failing health the past couple of years and suffered a fall at his home the first part of October. He had been transferred to different locations for rehabilitation and died at the Regent Park Nursing Home in Holyoke on Sunday night, November 13, 2011. He had reached the age of 74.

Earl was a long time member of the Grant Zion Lutheran Church. He had been active in Perkins County 4-H, serving as a leader and on the council for several years. Earl was a handy man. He enjoyed fixing things and working on wood projects. He was an avid sports fan. He followed the Grant Plainsmen and the Nebraska Cornhuskers and attended many high school sporting events. Earl enjoyed country music and played guitar in his younger years.

In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by one brother - Kenneth; brother-in-law, Omer (Ruth) Werner and sister-in-law, Linda Brown. He is survived by his wife of over 51 years, Karen; two sons - Kelly of Ogallala and Terry (Penny) of Grand Island; one daughter - Tammi (Don) Wilken of Greenwood; two granddaughters - Ashlie (Andy) Campbell and Katherine Brown and one grandson -Nathan Brown; one great-grandson - Aiden Campbell; two brothers - Gilbert (Joyce) of Beaumont, Texas and Robert Brown of Ogallala; one sister - Wilma (Danny) Austin of Imperial; brother-in-law, Gerald (Bernie) Werner of Grant; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Grant Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Ron Krause officiating. Burial in the Grant Cemetery.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.