In Loving Memory of Joseph Charles Brown II

Joseph Charles "Joe" Brown II, age 73, passed away on September 26, 2026, at Mercy One in Waterloo, Iowa.

 Born on November 20, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, Joe grew up in Waterloo, Iowa. Joe graduated from East High School in 1971. He earned a National Merit Scholarship to attend the University of Iowa and also studied at the University of Northern Iowa. He dedicated his professional life to serving others through his work with Hennepin County Social Services in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

On April 3, 1999, he married Sarah Margaret Shaw in Waterloo, Iowa. A man of rich interests and vibrant energy, Joe lived in Minneapolis from approximately 1980 to 2010, a period and city he held close to his heart. He loved spending time at Moby Dick’s in North Minneapolis and had a deep appreciation for music across all genres, especially jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues.

 In his personal time, Joe enjoyed fixing computers, working on his vehicles, and barbecuing for family and friends. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Minnesota Vikings and the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

Joe is survived by his mother, Royce G. Parker of Waterloo, Iowa; his son, Joseph Richard Brown of Waterloo, Iowa; his daughter, Alicia Brown; his grandson living in South Dakota; and his sisters, Phyllis Moore, Carolyn Sallis, Marcia Jones, and Stephanie (Michael) Johnson, all of Waterloo, Iowa.

 He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Brown; his father, Joseph C. Brown; his father, Richard Parker; his grandmother, Geneva Rogers; and his sister, Aquanetta Brown Crawford.