Cornelius "Cornie" Brower

Rock Rapids, Iowa Cornelius Brower age 91 of Rock Rapids, IA died Thursday, April 3, 2014 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2014, at Congregational United Church of Christ in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Dean Shelly and Rev Neal Vik, officiating. Burial with full military honors will take place prior to the service at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids at 12:30 p.m. Visitation will be Sunday, April 6th from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Cornelius "Cornie" Brower was born August 11, 1922, in Rock Rapids, IA the son of Anna (Steck) and Case Brower. Cornie grew up in Rock Rapids where he attended school, graduating from Wilson High School in 1941. Following high school, Cornie served his country in the US Military Coast Guard during WWII. Upon his honorable discharge, Cornie returned home to Rock Rapids. Cornie started working for JC Penney department store in Rock Rapids, and later he worked for Jongewaard Funeral home and Furniture where Cornie started helping with funerals along with selling furniture. Over the years, Cornie continued to be involved with the local funeral home as a key employee helping alongside Harold Jongewaard, Chuck Wolski, Dick Staap, Richard Roste and Jerry Jurrens. Cornie was a true example of someone who loved to help out and serve his community. He served families in the Rock Rapids area as a funeral directors' assistant for sixty-two years. Over the years, he was the Rock Rapids Fire Chief, Certified EMT, Civil Defense Coordinator, a Boy Scout leader, Sunday School Superintendent, active in the Rock Rapids American Legion and a bus driver for the Central Lyon school district. He was a lifelong active member of the Congregational United Church of Christ where he served on many boards and committees. He was united in marriage to Lila Hass on November 3, 1948 at Rock Rapids. Cornie and Lila were blessed with two children, Jeffrey and Jerilynn. Cornie was a loving husband, proud and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Cornie developed a love for sports when he was a young man. He was very good at softball and played on a local team for several years. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Vikings and Twins fan. He and Lila took several trips in their retirement years and they also were part of a pinochle club for 52 years. Cornie died this past Thursday morning, April 3, 2014, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of ninety-one. He is survived by his children Jeffrey and his wife, Mary Brower of Spokane, WA and Jerilynn and her husband, Wally Walker of Brooklyn Park, MN; grandchildren, Erin (Neil) Jacobson and their children Bridger and Porter of Spokane, WA; Weston Walker of Tampa, FL and Whitney Walker of Golden Valley, MN; along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. Cornie was preceded in death by his parents, Case and Anna; his wife, Lila; five brothers, Jack, Al, Pete, Delco and Richard and two sisters Willie Kudrle and Edith Moeller.