Gary Arthur Brown

Sun Prairie- Gary A. Brown Sr, age 89, passed away on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at Agrace Hospice. He was born in Chicago on September 21, 1934 the son of Stuart and Emily Brown. Gary grew up in Hessville, Indiana and graduated from Bishop Noll High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Jeri Mauger, in 1953.

Gary enlisted in the US Army in 1955.  After two years of serving in the infantry, he graduated from Officer Candidate School and transferred to aviation.  He completed one tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam, starting with flying fixed wing aircraft and transitioned to helicopters during Vietnam. Gary served his country proudly and honorably for twenty years achieving the rank of Major.  Service awards he earned while in the Army included: The Bronze Star with an Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Following military service, Gary received his small engine repair certificate from MATC and enjoyed working as the head mechanic for A to Z RentAll for 18 years. Gary was a devoted member of St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, a longtime BINGO caller for St. Albert and the Knights of Columbus, and was one of the volunteer managers at the Round Table. He was an avid Cubs fan and enjoyed fishing, bowling, camping, and playing racquetball. Gary was fond of technology and had fun coding and creating new games.

Gary is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jeri; four children, Gary (Michelle) Brown Jr., Julia “Jill” (George) Gruetzmacher, Lisa (Perry) Tilley, and Eric (Lisa) Brown; nine grandchildren; Madison Brown, Katarina Brown, Jonathan Brown, Garrett Gruetzmacher, Eric DeAngelo, Michelle DeAngelo, Sean DeAngelo, Kirsten (Danny) Petrzelka, and Stuart Brown; eight great grandchildren; two sisters, Elizabeth Benjamin and Maryann Lynn; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson Kyle DeAngelo; and sister Phyllis Sprong.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 10:30 AM, immediately followed by a luncheon at Saint Albert the Great Catholic Church, 2420 Saint Albert the Great Drive, Sun Prairie, WI.  A visitation concluding with a rosary prayer service will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 PM Monday, November 20, 2023 at Cress Funeral Home, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI, and from 9:00 AM until the time of service at the Church on Tuesday.   

Our family extends a special thank you to the staff of Agrace Hospice and Hyland Crossings.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Gary’s name to Agrace Hospice Care Inc.

Please share your memories of Gary by posting in his Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Services

1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie

(608) 837-9054