CURTIS - Harold J. Brown, 70, of Curtis passed away June 12, 2008, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.

He was born June 23, 1937, in Frontier County on a farm south of Curtis to Kenneth J. and Leona Mann Brown. He attended elementary and high school in Stockville and graduated with the class of 1955. He enlisted in the United States Army in September 1957 and he served 18 months in Korea where he was a radio repairman.

On June 26, 1960, he was united in marriage to his best friend and sweetheart, Nadine Hinton, at the Congregational Church in Stockville. This union was blessed with four children: Chip Alan, Rick Alan, Nick Alan and Jill Anne. They lived in Curtis where Harold was employed by Stan Phillips Motor Company. In 1973, he and his brother, Bob, opened and ran their own business, Brown Bros. Auto Service Inc. at 202 Pope Avenue, until his retirement.

Harold loved hunting, fishing, NASCAR racing, grilling steaks and hamburgers, attending sporting events and activities of children and grandchildren, mowing with his Snapper mower, driving the tractor and combine, Nebraska football, Chevrolets, a good back rub and a strong cup of coffee. His mechanical skills earned him the title of "Mr. Goodwrench" by friends and family. He had a special way with babies, dogs, and grandkids.

His wife and children will miss him for his calm, steady nature, his unique humor and teasing and his incomparable hugs and kisses.

Harold is survived by Nadine, his wife of 47 years; his son, Chip and wife, Lory, of Springdale, Ark., and their children Joel Michael, Justin Michael, Jamie Marie and Melissa Marie, and son, Rick and wife, Elaine, of McCordsville, Ind., and their children Nathan Harold, Rachel Anne, Renee Elizabeth and Ryan Broderick, and son, Nick and wife, Amy, of Curtis and children Connor Tate, Alissa Jo, Joseph Alan, Madison Marie and future baby Brown; his daughter, Jill Patel and husband, Adam, of Curtis and their children Joshua Michael, Kyla Grace and Jonathan Mitchell.

He is also survived in death by his mother-in-law, Iola Hinton of Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg; a brother, Bob, and wife, Jennie, of North Platte; a sister, Judy Moore and husband, Al, of Farnam; and a brother-in-law, Jerry Pike of Curtis; a sister-in-law, Carrol Barnell of Lincoln; and 10 very special nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Leona; his father-in-law, Dale A. Hinton; and brother-in-law, Don Hinton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in Harold's memory to the Arbor Cemetery in Stockville for a cemetery directory. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.blasestrauser.com

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 16, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Curtis with the Rev. Kevin Burkhardt officiating. Cremation will follow the service with inurnment at a later date in the Arbor Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Curtis.

North Platte Telegraph, 14 June 2008.