Donald Duane Brown went home to be with Jesus on July 31, 2022, following a long illness. In his final weeks, dear friends and family blessed him with acts of love and kindness in countless, precious ways.
Donald (Don) was born on April 29, 1952, to Neil and Arlene (O’Connell) Brown in Alliance, Nebraska. Don graduated from Alliance High School in 1970. He married Karen Shannon, his high school sweetheart, in 1971. To this happy union were added four children: Trisha, Jason, Spencer and Tyler.
Following high school graduation, Don attended Kearney State College where he played football and was also a hurdler on the track team. He transferred to Chadron State College and later to the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) where he received his teaching degree in 1979. He then taught elementary and middle school physical education for Millard Public Schools. During his teaching years there, he enjoyed coaching football, track and wrestling at the middle and high school levels. In 1994, the family returned to Alliance, and Don spent the rest of his life in his beloved Bulldog community. In Alliance, he worked as director of the YMCA and then as a teacher liaison for the Nebraska Boy’s Ranch. He then returned to teaching. He taught physical education and health classes, working at all grade levels at various times. He also relished the return to coaching. Eventually, his mobility challenges required a change. His final years with Alliance Public Schools was spent teaching and encouraging students at the newly instituted Alternative Education School. Of all his years teaching, this was the assignment that meant the most to him. The impairments of Don’s illness resulted in his early retirement from education in 2013.
Don had a full and blessed life filled with faith, family and friends. He would tell anyone that his greatest growth in faith came about during his years of volunteering with Prison Fellowship at the Omaha Correctional Facility. He also loved his years of involvement with Awanas at the Alliance Berean Church. He loved road trips, camping and vacationing with his family. He was an avid supporter of each of his four children in every sport or school activity they participated in and this enjoyment continued with his grandchildren. He was happiest while spending time with family and friends, whether that was camping, traveling, golfing, hunting, fishing, or exploring the night skies.
Don is survived by his wife, Karen. He is also survived by his children: Trisha (Michael) Davidson; Jason (Becky) Brown; Spencer (Jessica) Brown; and Tyler Brown (Vanessa Ybarra). He is survived by 13 grandchildren: Morgan, Austin (Corley), MaKayla and Brooke Davidson; Matthew and Abby Brown; Rosalie and Reagan Kopp; Carter, Parker and Blake Brown; Mila and Kamdyn Brown. His 3 great grandsons are Asher Herian, Evryn Kozal and Oakland Davidson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law, Terry and Berniece Shannon, his grandmother Helen McMasters, nephew David Brown and niece Elizabeth Brown.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held at the Alliance Berean Church at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, August 5, 2022. Memorials may be made to the Alliance Public Schools Foundation (memo Don Brown Fund), 1604 Sweetwater, Alliance, NE 69301.