R. Jack Brownell

R. Jack Brownell, 87, of Wakefield, Nebraska died on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at the Wakefield Health Care Center. Funeral services for Jack will be held on Monday, August 22, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield; Pastor Darwin Garton will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the Bressler ~ Munderloh Funeral Home in Wakefield. There will be a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. on Sunday evening followed by a Masonic Service. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Richard Jack Brownell was born on March 27, 1924 to Richard Allen and Mabel (Gotch) Brownell on a farm near Allen, Nebraska. The family moved south of Waterbury where Jack attended rural school and worked as a farmhand for several years. He married Mildred Hingst on February 1, 1945 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Emerson, Nebraska. Jack and Mildred moved to Allen in 1953, where he operated a tank wagon service. The couple lived in Kearney for a short time, and since 1961, made their home in Wakefield. After running a DX station, Jack built and operated the Brown ‘L’ Drive-In, which was known miles around for its delicious broasted chicken. Jack’s favorite career began when he started selling new and used cars. He did this for many years in Wayne with Roy Coryell Chevrolet and Arnie’s Ford Mercury. Jack’s hobbies included bowling, golf, playing cards, watching and attending sporting events of his children and grandchildren. In later years, he especially enjoyed mowing lawns on his John Deere and “Alice” mowers. Jack was baptized in Allen and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Emerson. He was currently a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield. He was also an active member of the Wakefield Masonic Lodge. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Mildred; son and daughter-in-law, Dick and Jane Brownell of Wakefield; daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Steven Romersheuser of Eagle, CO; five grandchildren, Brett, Maggie and Anna Brownell; Jean and Louis Romersheuser; two sisters Doris Dixon of Ankeny, IA, Judy Hopkins of Simi Valley, CA. He was preceded in death by his two brothers Ray and Don, a granddaughter Katie Brownell and an infant son.