Obituary

David Brown

Apr 22, 1961 - May 1, 2024

Anchorage resident David Richard Brown, 63, passed on May 1, 2024, at Providence Alaska Medical Center surrounded by family and friends. Burial service will be 10 a.m., on May 13, 2024, at Angelus Memorial Park. A celebration of life will be held afterwards at Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum at 1 p.m.

David was born on April 22, 1961, in Harrisburg, Pa., to Gregory and Juanita Brown (Tressler). Juanita's father had moved to Seward, Alaska, in the late 1940s, and started the Kenai Lumber Company, leading to the family moving to Alaska in July 1964. Alaska in the '60s and '70s afforded Dave a childhood of great adventures. He attended Bartlett High, and was the first freshman to play varsity football and excelled in track and field. When he graduated in 1979, he held the school records in discus and shot put which then stood for over 20 years. Opting out of a scholarship to play football for the University of Hawaii, he attended Spokane Falls Community College with lifelong friend Robbie Capps. After college, Dave returned to Alaska and began a career in construction. Longtime friends Randy Bailey and Dave had a passion for hunting, bringing home more game meat and fur than they knew what to do with.

Dave met his first wife Valarie and her son Thomas in 1982, and had two children, Jessica Marie and Tyler David. During this time, Dave met Collin Szymanski who didn't hesitate to recruit Dave. Dave later went on to become VP of Mantech Mechanical and a Local 367 member for 28 years.

Dave spent many summers with his brother Greg and his dad building their Big Lake cabin, err compound. Every few years there was a new addition to support the Browns growing family. Summers were filled with fishing, water skiing and tubing. Winters were spent snowmachining all around Alaska, from the trails by the cabin to the mountain tops at Arctic Man, base camp at Sleeping Lady and beyond. In 2007, Dave and son Tyler had the grand idea of conquering a new challenge - getting their private pilots licenses. In 1995, David found his soulmate and love of his life Susan Crowder. The Browns loved traveling and, after years of cruises and family vacations, Dave and Susan found their second home in Loreto, Mexico. Eleven grandchildren later Papa Dave and Grammy "Suzu" felt the fruits of their labor with a full and beautiful family. David is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Thomas, Jessica and Tyler (Alicia); brother, Greg (Wanda) and children Dustin, Josh and Taylor; and grandchildren, Nathalie, Genevieve, Quentin, Matthew, Lucas, Karter, Kai, Kingston, Ayla, Cole and Trace. Dave was simply the best brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend, as he fully enjoyed life and will always be our rock, our hero, our one-liner genius, king of snark and forever in our hearts.

Dave helped with the building of the Children's Hospital, so, in lieu of flowers, please donate to The Children's Hospital at Providence.