Kenneth Joseph Brown

Survived by wife, Patti; daughter, Keegan; son, Collin; father, Ed (Penny) Brown; siblings and step siblings, Terry Hancock, Jim (Kim) Hancock, Dan (Cyndi) Brown, Susie Perry, Ed (Penni) Hancock and Jeanne (Tom) Wienzierl; many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by mother, Elsie Brown.

Ken was born May 20, 1963, in Chicago. He grew up in Iowa and attended Iowa State University, earning a degree in industrial engineering. He used his engineering skills throughout his battle with ALS to invent several devices to help him live more effectively. Ken was athletic throughout his life, excelling as a body builder and a runner.

After college, Ken went into the Air Force, where he met Patti, a nurse. They married in 1989 and had two children, Keegan and Collin. Ken and Patti enjoyed ballroom dancing and riding motorcycles. They remained loyal teammates to the end.

In 1997, Ken started working at Boston Scientific. He was diagnosed with ALS in February of 2014, and he continued working two years after his diagnosis.

Despite his diagnosis, Ken was adamant that he live the remainder of his life on his terms. He vacationed with family, swam, biked and ran as long as he could. He volunteered on a church mission trip to help with construction of a girls' orphanage in Guatemala. Ken sought to have God glorified each day as he lived with ALS.

Private interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

Visitation from 1 to 2 PM at church prior to the service and will continue one hour after the end of the service.

Thursday, July 20, 2017 02:30 PM

New Hope Church 4225 Gettysburg Avenue North New Hope, MN 55428

Visitation from 1 to 2 PM at church prior to the service and will continue one hour after the end of the service.