Edward Brown, 82, Owatonna

Edward William Brown passed away at home in Owatonna, MN, with his wife, Teddie, by his side on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, at the age of 82.
Ed was born Feb. 5, 1942, to parents Chester and Ann (Sedler) Brown in Detroit, Mich.
Ed grew up in Oakmont, Pa., with four siblings. He graduated from Oakmont High School in 1960 and graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1966.
In August 1964, he married Theodora (Maryanski). They raised two girls and moved to Owatonna, in 1979, after living in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio and Iowa.
Ed “Eddie” grew up with a golf club in his hands and could be found on a golf course throughout his life. Ed enjoyed driving his car, music, photography, cooking, gardening, and mowing his lawn. He loved computers and started the first Apple User Group. Ed enjoyed his coffee or a good Scotch with a cigar while watching nature off his back porch. After retiring, he enrolled in Normandale Community College for Photography to learn how to use his cameras during his world travels. Ed always had a great story to tell and the ability to spread his kindness and laughter to everyone he met.
Ed was a Project Engineer, starting his career with Westinghouse and Amana Refrigeration. He moved his family to Owatonna and worked for Truth locally, and also IBM and LSI in Rochester, until retirement. During his career at IBM, he ran IBM’s United Way Fundraiser. He was a founding volunteer for Contact and served on the Board of Directors for the Owatonna Arts Center and Hats & Mittens Charity in Minneapolis. He was instrumental in obtaining grants from IBM to fund the first computers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota, along with co-writing the first program for the Bowl-a-Thon. Ed and Teddie held seasonal concert tickets to the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra to support the love of music.
Ed and Teddie loved their World and United States travels and vacations with their daughters and later with their grandchildren. Ed was also blessed to see his nieces and nephews, who always enjoyed his shenanigans, on family vacations. Ed loved his family and having four grandchildren, sharing his stories and wisdom with them. The grandchildren loved growing up and spending time around him. They often stopped in for an espresso or caramel macchiato and a good story.
Ed is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Teddie; daughters: Mary (Ken) Kern and Diana (Brad) Schmidt of Owatonna; grandchildren: Joshua and Julia Hansen, Paul Kern, and Tyler Schmidt; sisters Cathy Engle, Linda (Doug) Stewart, and Joann (Marc) Moller; sister-in-law Mary Brown; 10 in-laws; and 32 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother William Brown, and brother-in-law Edward Engle.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, a notice will be given. Memorials can be made to Owatonna Arts Center, 435 Garden View Lane, Owatonna, MN, 55060 or Owatonna Music Boosters, P.O. Box 116, Owatonna, MN, 55060. For more information or to leave an online message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com.