A lifelong resident of Montezuma, Frank Royce Brownell III handed away on June 18, 2025 after a prolonged sickness. He was every week wanting 86 years outdated. Funeral providers will start at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 12, 2025 on the Group Hope Church in Montezuma. Visitation will start after 12:00 pm Friday, July 11, 2025 on the Group Hope Church with the household current from 4:00 pm to eight:00 pm to greet buddies and relations. A Masonic Service can be held Friday, July 11, 2025 on the Group 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 Residence of Montezuma is answerable for preparations.
Throughout his energetic profession spanning nearly sixty years, Frank turned a widely known, beloved determine within the gun business. He incessantly welcomed lengthy strains of buddies on the Brownells sales space throughout annual business gatherings like SHOT Present and the NRA Annual Conferences and Conventions. He liked gathering weapons, particularly skillfully engraved and adorned ones, and loved wonderful meals, SCUBA diving, and music and artwork of many alternative varieties. He additionally had a terrific fondness for finely crafted miniature reproduction firearms, and Venetian glass paperweights.
Each Frank and the enterprise that may grow to be generally known as Brownells started in 1939 in Montezuma, IA, with Frank being born on June 24 of that 12 months. The second of three kids and solely son of Brownells founder Bob and spouse Lois, Frank turned concerned in each the household enterprise and the American gun business at an early age. In 1957, Frank appeared on the quilt of the February difficulty 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 College of Journalism from the College of Iowa in 1961, Magna Cum Laude. He married his school sweetheart Nancy Denton after finishing Navy Officer Candidate College in Rhode Island. Shortly after the marriage, Frank reported to his obligation station aboard the USS Caliente AO-53, a fleet oiler based mostly out of Lengthy Seashore, California.
Certainly one 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 depart 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 mission laying out Huge Ebook Catalog #18. Frank was energetic in all components of the enterprise, and helped publish the primary of the Gunsmith Kinks collection of books in 1969 below the identify F. Brownell and Son.
Frank assumed the position 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, transferring into the CEO position in 2007 when son Pete turned 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 neighborhood and served on the Montezuma Metropolis Council for over fifty years and was Mayor Professional Tem for a lot of his tenure. He offered management on a number of boards together with the Grinnell hospital board, the Wittington Heart, the College of Journalism on the College of Iowa, and plenty of firearms business associated organizations.
He was a fifty-plus 12 months Mason, a member of York Ceremony, Scottish Ceremony and Za Ga Zig Shrine.
Above all else, Frank Brownell was a faithful 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 dad and mom, Bob and Lois, and his sister, Diana.
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