Joel Frank Brown

Joel Frank Brown of Taylor, Idaho passed away on October 23, 2013 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls after a courageous 2 ½ year battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Joel was born on April 20

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, 1947 in Ogden, Utah to Everett Barney and Beth Oram Barney.  He was adopted at a very young age and was lovingly raised by his step father, Stanley Frank Brown, whom Joel considered and loved as his real father.

Joel attended schools in Ogden graduating as a “Bonneville Laker” in 1965 from Bonneville High School in Ogden where he played football and then went on to Weber State College for a period of time.

On June 5, 1966, Joel joined the U. S. Army Reserve artillery battalion based at Camp Williams located near Tooele, Utah where he obtained the rank of Sergeant.  He and his military co-hearts were responsible for firing and maintaining 155mm Howitzer Cannons.  After serving for four years at that location, he transferred to the Idaho National Guard 116

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Engineering Battalion in Rigby and was honorably discharged on September 6, 1971.

On March 27

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, 1970 Joel married Bonnie Lorraine Barnett of Taylor, Idaho.  They met in October, 1969 when Joel was working on a building façade remodel in Old Downtown Idaho Falls.  He was employed at that time by Young Electric Sign Co. “YESCO” based in Ogden.  In 1973 they welcomed the birth of their loving son, Jeremy Frank Brown.

Most of Joel’s working career was in the sign industry. His career started with YESCO, spent several years at Northwest Sign Company, and eventually a partner for a number of years in A/K Signs in Idaho Falls.  He then returned to work for YESCO approximately 14 years ago, retiring in 2009. He was very talented in all aspects of his work which can still be seen in numerous signs around the Idaho, Montana and Wyoming areas today.

Joel loved to hunt and fish, treasuring the times spent in Utah with his father and brother, Gene Brown. Joel taught his young son, Jeremy, a great love for the Idaho outdoors, spending many days fishing and camping in the Palisades area with family and friends.

In 1994, Joel and Bonnie moved into their new home in Taylor and his love for the outdoors became his beautiful yard.  He also loved to be in his shop working on various woodworking projects, and when time allowed, going on vacations in the Western States, the East and West Coasts, and even as far as Mexico and Canada. His most treasured trip of all was going to Alaska with the Barry and Linda Cox family.

Joel is survived and will be so greatly missed by his wife, Bonnie and son, Jeremy; Brother and Sister-in law, Gene and Kelly Brown of West Point, Utah; Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Jack and Judy Barnett, Brother- in-law, Braxton Barnett; Nieces, Lisa (Mike) Marudas, JoDee (Todd) Haft, Jenifer (Mike) Billings, Tausha Barnett, Britnee Barnett (Josh Wheeler) and Taylor Barnett (Ben Staggie);  Nephews, Kyle Brown, Dallas (Luci) Brown and Scott Barnett; Great-nieces, Lauren (Michael) Lambert, Erin, Kaelyn, Morgan, Alex, Jozie, Macie, Jillian, Hailey, Makayla and McKinley;  Great-nephews, Logan, Brock, Devan, Michael and Greyson;  His feline pals, Muffin and Zoee, along with a countless amount of extended family and friends in the Idaho Falls and Ogden, Utah areas.

Joel was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Frank Brown and Beth Oram Brown; Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Vance and Lila Barnett; his Grandparents, Brown and Oram; and his loved Nephew Travis Brown.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 28th at the LDS Taylor Ward, 1101 E 1250 N, Shelley, Idaho.  A gathering for family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 27th at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W. Oak St., Shelley and from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. prior to the services.

The entire family extends a special thank you to Joel’s doctors, nurses and aides at EIRMC for their outstanding care and compassion during his stay.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Joel’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 3245 Channing Way, Idaho Falls, ID  83402. Ph. (208) 228-0633.