Robert "Bob" Brown

Robert A. Brown, 77, of Spread Eagle, passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at ManorCare Health Services in Kingsford. He was born November 20, 1935 in Stambaugh, MI, son of the late Fayette and Gladys (Pickard) Brown. Bob graduated from Iron River High School in 1953 and went on to attend the University of Colorado. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany from 1958-60. Bob married Ann Ekern on July 23, 1960 in Lake Forest, IL. He started his career in banking with First Wisconsin National Bank in Milwaukee, WI where he spent three years. From 1963 to 1971 Bob worked for the Office of the Comptroller of Currency and in 1967 was commissioned a National Bank Examiner. He examined banks in the Milwaukee sub-district until 1969 and then examined trust departments in southern Wisconsin until 1971. Bob took a position with the First National Bank and Trust in Iron Mountain in 1971 and served as Executive Vice President in charge of all bank lending as well as president of the bank from 1991 to 1996. During his career, Bob furthered his education at the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking. He also sat on the Board of Directors at the bank from 1974 until 2007. Bob was an active member of the community, serving on the Dickinson County Community Foundation where he was past chairman and on the Advisory Committee at the Dickinson-Iron Vocational Education Center. In 1983, Bob was instrumental in the formation of 1st Step, Inc., which was established to provide free business counseling to new and existing businesses in the Central Upper Peninsula. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford, the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Lions Club, the Elks Lodge #700, Pine Grove Country Club, the Golden K, Ducks Unlimited, Wildlife Unlimited, the Dickinson County Chamber of Commerce, the Spread Eagle Lakes Association and the Chippewa Club where he was past treasurer. His former affiliations include serving as a director for 16 years and president for one year on the Dickinson County Industrial Development Corporation and serving as County Supervisor of Florence County from 1980 to 1986. Bob enjoyed hunting, ice fishing, skiing, cooking, golfing and boating. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ann; a brother, Douglas (Dorothy) Brown of Venice, FL; and nine nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by a brother Elwin P. Brown and a sister, Marian Fay Brown. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00am at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. A memorial service will follow at 11:00am at the church. Rev. Michael March will officiate. Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bob's memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or the Dickinson County Cancer Unit Loan Closet. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Robert Brown online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Robert "Bob" Brown

November 20, 1935 - March 20, 2013