Frank Brownell III, Brownells Legend, Passes at 85 (1939–2025)

A lifelong resident of Montezuma, Frank Royce Brownell III handed away on June 18, 2025 after a prolonged sickness. He was every week in need of 86 years outdated. Funeral providers will start at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 12, 2025 on the Neighborhood Hope Church in Montezuma. Visitation will start after 12:00 pm Friday, July 11, 2025 on the Neighborhood Hope Church with the household current from 4:00 pm to eight:00 pm to greet pals and family members. A Masonic Service shall be held Friday, July 11, 2025 on the Neighborhood Hope Church starting at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions could also be made to the Brownells Basis or DMMO (Des Moines Metro Opera). Holland-Coble Funeral Dwelling of Montezuma is answerable for preparations.

Throughout his lively profession spanning virtually sixty years, Frank grew to become a well known, beloved determine within the gun trade. He steadily welcomed lengthy traces of pals on the Brownells sales space throughout annual trade gatherings like SHOT Present and the NRA Annual Conferences and Conventions. He cherished accumulating weapons, particularly skillfully engraved and adorned ones, and loved tremendous meals, SCUBA diving, and music and artwork of many various varieties. He additionally had an awesome fondness for finely crafted miniature reproduction firearms, and Venetian glass paperweights.

Each Frank and the enterprise that will change into often known as Brownells started in 1939 in Montezuma, IA, with Frank being born on June 24 of that yr. The second of three kids and solely son of Brownells founder Bob and spouse Lois, Frank grew to become concerned in each the household enterprise and the American gun trade at an early age. In 1957, Frank appeared on the duvet of the February problem of American Rifleman, photographed looking mule deer close to Devils Tower in Wyoming.

Frank was a 1957 graduate of Montezuma highschool and earned a BA in Promoting within the Faculty of Journalism from the College of Iowa in 1961, Magna Cum Laude. He married his school sweetheart Nancy Denton after finishing Navy Officer Candidate Faculty in Rhode Island. Shortly after the marriage, Frank reported to his responsibility station aboard the USS Caliente AO-53, a fleet oiler primarily based out of Lengthy Seashore, California.

One in every of Frank’s first jobs for Brownells was shortly earlier than he left the Navy in 1964. With the USS Caliente in port for overhaul in Portland, Oregon, Frank took go away and drove with spouse Nancy to Los Angeles, CA, to work within the Brownells sales space on the NRA Annual Conference and Conferences. One of many merchandise he helped market on the present was the brand new Latigo Sling, a rifle sling Brownells nonetheless sells to at the present time.

Upon finishing his army service, Frank joined Brownells full time in 1965, along with his first main challenge laying out Massive Guide Catalog #18. Frank was lively in all elements of the enterprise, and helped publish the primary of the Gunsmith Kinks sequence of books in 1969 underneath the identify F. Brownell and Son.

Frank assumed the function of President at Brownells in 1983, taking up the day-to-day operations of the enterprise from his father Bob. He served as President for twenty-four years, shifting into the CEO function in 2007 when son Pete grew to become the President.

In 2012, Frank handed the reins of CEO on to Pete and have become the Chairman of the Board, a place he remained in till his passing.

Frank believed in giving again to the group and served on the Montezuma Metropolis Council for over fifty years and was Mayor Professional Tem for a lot of his tenure. He supplied management on a number of boards together with the Grinnell hospital board, the Wittington Heart, the Faculty of Journalism on the College of Iowa, and lots of firearms trade associated organizations.

He was a fifty-plus yr Mason, a member of York Ceremony, Scottish Ceremony and Za Ga Zig Shrine.

Above all else, Frank Brownell was a loyal husband, father and grandfather. He’s survived by his sons and their spouses: Bob and Braedi, Pete and Helen, and Matt and Jodi. He’s additionally survived by six grandchildren: Alex, Mairead, Aidan, Ruari, Jake and Kyle. Frank’s sister, Lynne and her husband Andy Boysen additionally survive him together with a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in demise by his spouse, Nancy, his mother and father, Bob and Lois, and his sister, Diana.

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