Jeffrey Glenn Brown

On March 11, 2020, Jeffrey Glenn Brown of Bloomington, formerly of Colorado, Bedford, and Paoli, passed away from this life after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Jeff was born in Salem, Indiana on October 29, 1952 to Forrest Glen and Carol Jo (Morris) Brown. He grew up in Paoli, graduating from Paoli High School in 1970, later earning degrees in anthropology (1984) and outdoor recreation management (1999) from Indiana University. He married his first wife, Toni, in 1977, and together they had two beautiful daughters whom they raised in Bedford. After a long career in construction wherein he worked for local contractors such as McIntyre Brothers and Cameron Asphalt, Jeff returned to grad school to pursue a second career in his true love: the outdoors. As such, he spent the last part of his life working in and exploring the American West, where he was able to finally achieve the job title he’d wanted since age six: archaeologist. During this time, he met and married his second wife, Kathryn (Kate) Peterson, and they spent many hours hiking hundreds of miles around Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, and New Mexico. After a successful career in land management, Jeff retired from the Federal Bureau of Land Management in October 2018.

A former member of Paoli Christian Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church (Bedford), Jeff considered himself of the Quaker faith of his ancestors, in that he valued peace, equality, simplicity, justice, and stewardship of the earth. Many words could be used to describe Jeff: Archaeologist. Photographer. Carpenter. Artist. Music lover. Historian. Explorer. Hiker. Friend. Husband. Brother. Son. But Jeff’s favorite descriptors were Dad and Grandpa. He lived his entire life for his family, and he loved them deeply.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother, David. He will be sorely missed by his daughters, Lindsay Brewer-Brown and partner Martin Valderrama of Bloomington, and Lauren Brown and partner Andrès Martin of Fishers; brothers and sister-in-law, Dr. Randy Brown and wife Linda of Parker City, and Dr. Jim Brown of Edinburgh; sister and brother-in-law Cheryl Longest and husband Johnny of Jasper; grandson Riley Turpen of Bloomington; niece Jera Brown of Chicago; nephews Sam Brown of Denver, Matthew Poe of Vincennes, and Tanner Longest of Jasper, and close friends/former spouses Toni Brewer of Bloomington and Kate Peterson of Colorado.

In order to protect our vulnerable friends and family, and in accordance with CDC guidance on social distancing, the family of Jeffrey Brown has decided to postpone his memorial service until the highest threat of coronavirus has passed. Updated information about a new date and time will be published when it becomes available.

In lieu of flowers, Jeff’s family would ask that you consider making a gift in his memory to either the American Cancer Society or to Friends of the Earth.