Obituaries
Joseph Allen Brown, 93
May 07, 2020
Joseph Allen Brown, age 93, Lancaster, died Thursday, May 7, 2020, at Brethren Village.
His wife, Joan A. Brown, died on Sunday, May 3, 2020 with Joe at her side. They would have celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in June.
Joe’s mother-in-law often said he looked like Jimmy Stewart. Unlike George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life, however, Joe understood his life’s good fortune and the positive impact he had on his family and friends.
Joe said there were three pivotal moments that established the foundation for the rest of his life. First, he was broke when he was discharged from the Navy in 1946, but thanks to the GI Bill he was able to obtain his college and law degrees. He championed this federal legislation for the rest of his life for the opportunities it provided him. Second, in 1948 he met Joan Auchter at a wedding and immediately knew he had met his future wife. They were a supportive and loving team for over 70 years. As he wrote on the eve of their 40th wedding anniversary, once he met Joan “the road was great and the wind was always at my back.” Third, in 1955 he joined New Holland Machine Company as a patent attorney, which had the dual benefit of providing him with a rewarding career and brought his growing family to Lancaster, an area they loved and were proud to call home.
Family was most important to Joe. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Known as Pop Pop to his fifteen grandchildren, he is remembered for giving out countless ice cream cones, pretzels and frozen Peppermint Patties to his “bunnies.” He liked dogs, babies, doing yard work, playing bridge, and traveling. A long-time member of the Lancaster Country Club, Joe served on its board for six years and played golf well into his 80’s.
Thanks to his good-natured personality and sense of humor, Joe had charm and wit and loved telling stories, often at his own expense. In a trait he credited to his father, he treated everyone the same regardless of their status in life and made sure his kids did the same. He was a role model for how we should all live our lives.
Joe is survived by seven children: Margaret J. Kay, married to Jeffrey (Lititz); Jeanne B. McCreary, married to Robert (Landisville); Joseph A. Brown, Jr., married to Linda Krebs (Issaquah, WA); Theresa M. Brown (Lancaster); Timothy P. Brown, married to Louise Huntley (Lancaster); Michael J. Brown, married to Julie Leedy (Havertown, PA); and Richard J. Brown, married to Jennifer Duncan (West Chester, PA); 15 grandchildren: Meghan and Jennifer Kay; Sean, Ryan and Thomas McCreary; Gwen Brown; Alston, Carson and Elizabeth Brown; Drew and Paige Gingrich, Abigail and Nina Brown; and James and Olivia Brown; and six great-grandchildren: Elener, Wesley, Natalie, Frances, Cameron and Jackson McCreary. Joe had a sister, Ann R. Spellman (Worcester, MA), and a brother, William J. Brown (Shrewsbury, MA), both deceased.
Born in Massachusetts, the son of Joseph and Anna Moynihan Brown, Joe graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Worcester in 1943 and served from 1943 to 1946 in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 1948 and Georgetown University Law School in 1951. He was admitted to the bars of DC and PA.
In 1988, he retired as Vice-President and General Counsel of Sperry New Holland and its 1986 successor, Ford New Holland. He was with the company for 33 years. He then joined the Lancaster law firm of Hartman, Underhill & Brubaker as Of Counsel from 1988 to 1998.
Joe’s specialty was patent and trademark law, having been admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent Office in 1954. At New Holland, he solicited most of the fifty-five patents granted to E.B.Nolt, the inventor of the first one-person automatic hay baler. It was the baler that propelled New Holland to becoming a worldwide manufacturer of farm equipment.
Joe was active in many civic and charitable organizations. He started and for five years chaired the committee that built St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Manheim Township, which was dedicated as a parish in the Harrisburg diocese in 1978. He served on the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for two years, was a member of its highways and transportation committee for twelve years, and its chairman for eight years. Joe was a divisional chairman of the United Way; a member of the operations committee of Harb-Adult; and, for six years a member of the board of St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Neumann at a later date. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s New Catholic Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Joe’s memory to Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.
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Condolences to the Family
May 17, 2020
Dear Jeanne and Bob, all the McCrearys and Browns,
You have our deepesst sympathy during this difficult time. I felt as though I knew your parents through you and I know how greatly they will be missed.
With Love,
Holly and Kim Kleimo
May 10, 2020
My condolences to the Brown family. I worked with Joe at Sperry/Ford NH. He was a valuable mentor to me when I transferred to New Holland from Lexington Nebraska as we were setting up a new operating division in the early 80’s. My office was around the corner and I could count on a warm smile and a word of encouragement at the start of the day. He had the gift of wisdom and it was readily available every time I asked. He was truly a key ingredient in the success of New Holland in those days. Also, I was fortunate to meet Joan when my wife and I would run into them at breakfast, usuallly at the Leola Restaurent. It’s sad to lose both parents at once but you can be proud of the legacy they left and be thankful for being blessed with parents like Joe and Joan.
Dale Smith, Bluffton SC
May 10, 2020
My condolences to the Brown family. I worked with Joe at Sperry/Ford New Holland. He was a real inspiration to me and gave me much needed and wise advise. He was a valuable mentor to me when I transferred to New Holland from Nebraska in the early 80’s. My office happened to be around the corner and he was such an encouragement to me as we embarked on a new operating division. Every morning I could expect his smiling face to show up at my door with a word of encourgement. A real gentlemen in all aspects and his wisdom was much appreciated. In addition, I was fortunate to meet Joan, as my wife and I ran into them at breakfast at the Leola Restaurent occasionally. Losing both parents so close together is a sad thing and my prayers are with you. You can be proud of the legacy of two outstanding parents.
Dale Smith
May 10, 2020
Dear Brown Family,
I was so shocked to read of your Dad’s death so soon after your Mother’s passing. I recall your Father’s joyous laugh and good nature. Heartfelt sympathy during this awfully difficult time.
P.S. One of the pictures in your Mom’s beautiful online tribute was taken on our family’s couch on Haskell Drive. Such beautiful family pictures and memories of happy times.
Erin McKenna
May 09, 2020
Dear Jeanne and the McCreary Clan,
I just read two beautiful obituaries for two beautiful people who turned out to be your parents. I was not surprised that you were one of the seven people that came from this lineage, Jeanne. How fortunate you all were to have them as parents and grandparents. May you find peace in the memories of joy when you all were together.
Lyn Schmid
May 09, 2020
Dear Jeanne and Robert McCreary, family and extended families,
Back in sixth grade you, Jeanne, were taught “God made me to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.”
Your mom and dad gave absolute proof of this fidelity and love for God throughout all their lives, so now they are, and will remain with Him forever, in Heaven.
Continue to follow their example.
Peace,
Marie and Paul Sauer
May 09, 2020
Joe Brown was a wonderful man, outstanding lawyer, excellent manager and a wonderful friend who will be lost and missed greatly!
Michael R. Losey
May 09, 2020
I had the privilege of knowing and practicing law with Joe for 10 years at Hartman Underhill & Brubaker. Joe was an excellent lawyer and a gentleman. Please accept my sincere sympathy.
Michael W. Babic
May 09, 2020
My parents, both deceased, were Jane and Howard Downey — my Dad worked with Joe at New Holland and the couples were good friends. I knew Joe as a friend of my parents, then again when both of us worked at HUB — I worked for my husband in his firm on the third floor of the building. Joe and I shared a parking lot on the side of the building and we must have shared a schedule because we often walked into the building together, and chatted. What a wonderful couple, a wonderful man. My parents spoke so highly of them. I send my warmest condolences.
Anne Gardner
May 09, 2020
The Brown Family lost their Matriarch and Patriarch in a matter of days. Mr & Mrs Joe Brown built a strong Family to endure! All Rest In Peace.
Joe Weisser
May 09, 2020
Jeanne & family,
So sorry for the loss of both parents in such a short period of time. Blessings to you and your family during this time of sorrow.
Rick Heisley
May 09, 2020
Dear Jeanne,
I was sorry to read about your father’s death. I started reading the obituary not knowing him nor his connection to you. I was drawn by the paragraph that stated the three pivotal events in his life, which established my understanding that he was a grateful and good man. I was pleasantly surprised to eventually read that you are his daughter. You must be very proud of your father. When you and I worked together, I doubt we would have discovered that our fathers might have known each other. My dad, Jim Snavely, who died in 2006, also was a golfer at Lancaster Country Club, and I wouldn’t doubt that our dads knew each other. I have fond memories of working with you at Hans Herr in the 1970s. My thoughts are with you today.
Sincerely, Nancy Snavely Stewart
May 08, 2020
Mr Brown had so much integrity and I was impressed with his stately yet kind presence even as as I was a young teen. As a team, the Browns role modeled how to care for a family and also have fun. Their memory is a treasure.
Julia Bucher
