Francis L. Brownell

Francis “Fran” Brownell, 78, of Clarion passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Memorial services for Francis Brownell will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 6:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion with Pastor Bill Kem officiating. 

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Wednesday. 

Fran was born on November 24, 1935 to Lee and Loretta (Ivey) Brownell in Watertown, New York. Fran received most of his education in New York, attending Syracuse.  He finished his medical degree at University of Minnesota in Duluth, Minnesota.

Fran married his first wife Paula Gravina in 1960, to that union four children were born; Lisa, Amy, Kirk, and Eric. A favorite memory the children have is of their dad renovating and flipping houses.

Fran married Tami Hill in 2006 and to that union Luke Francis was born.

Fran loved to travel and vacationed in many different places, including taking a world cruise with his sister, Linda.  One of his most memorable trips would have been when he traveled to Antarctica and had the chance to interact with the penguins.  Fran’s other hobbies included fishing, camping, gambling, and playing cards.

He will be remembered as a joker, a teaser, and one that always had a fast comeback.  Fran didn’t know a stranger; he could make friends with anyone.

Fran is survived by his wife Tami; his children Lisa (Klair) Greenfield and their children Katie (Bob) Fullhart, Cody (Amanda) Greenfield, and Julianna Greenfield all of Spencer, Amy (Tim) Maas and their children Brandon Maas and Brittany Maas all of Webster City, Eric (Carrie) Brownell of Webster City, and Luke Francis Brownell of Clarion; grandchildren Danika and Sloan, both of Texas; brother Terry Brownell of Alabama; sister Linda Hale of Virginia; great-grandchildren Jace, Noah, Emerie, Josie, Cason, Kaylie, and Mason; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Fran is preceded in death by his parents, son Kirk, and infant brother Gary.

Memorials in Fran’s name can be directed to Hospice for Wright County.