Jack  T Brown

Jack Thomas Brown, 84, of Missoula passed away on Saturday Nov. 18, 2017 at his home.
Jack was born Aug. 8, 1933, in Millerstown PA, to James and Lena Brown. He attended Donna Lee Mills school until 8th grade. At 17 he started working for the railroad 6 months out of the year and the rest of the time he sold cars. He was previously married at 18 and had four children, Jack Jr., Barry, Debra, and Vickie.
In 1958 he was reunited with his school crush, and the love of his life, Helen, they were married May 4, 1959 and with that union he gained 3 more kids, James, Wanda, and Johnny. Jack and Helen moved to Missoula, MT. When they first arrived in Missoula Jack worked for the railroad. He was laid off in Nov. of ’59, and they went back to PA for a short time. While they were there Jackie was born.
After returning to Missoula they started the Central Union Service Station, they also purchased their first wrecker. Donna was born in 1960 and in 1962 they had Gary. The same day Gary was born, Jack attended a race at the Missoula dirt track, this is where his love of racing began. The next week he had a car and started racing under the #33 1/3, because that was the price of gas. That same year they purchased property on Zaugg and started Browns Towing and Auto, which continues to serve today. He also drove toter truck and pulled mobile homes, starting Browns Trucking. Browns has been in that same location ever since. They lived on the property until 1996 when they purchased their dream home on Speedway.
Jack had a huge personality and was often known for not holding anything back, always smiling and joking around. He loved his wife and his family deeply and instilled in them his strong work ethic along with his love of cars and speed. He was a great friend to many and a father/grandfather figure to most of the neighborhood and even his employees. He worked every day of his life except the 3 week vacation they took yearly to go to Knoxville, IA for the sprint car races. They would also head to PA to visit family, but not without stopping in Pocahontas, IA to check out the newest wrecker he was about to purchase. He was very proud of what he had accomplished in his life and happy to see his kids following in his footsteps. He was the best Pappy making sure his grandkids were never in short supply of ice cream, candy, or love.
He is preceded in death by: his parents James and Lena Brown, brothers; James, Chet, Herb, Wallace, and Harry, sisters; Lois, Helen, Charlotte, Miriam, and Betty, son Barry, 2 granddaughters, and a great-grand-son.
He is survived by his wife Helen, His children; Jack Jr. “Butch” (Jordan) Brown, Johnny (Verna) Campbell, Jackie (Alan) Daniels, Gary (Gina) Brown, all of Missoula, Donna (Charles “CJ”) Kellough of Stevensville, Debra Everly (Clarence), James “Jimmy” (Rosie) Campbell, Wanda Myers, and Vickie Brown (Terry), of Pennsylvania, 26 grandkids, and 38 great-grand-kids.
Visitation Wednesday Nov. 29, 5-7. Funeral Thursday, Nov. 30, 10:30 Garden City, Pastor David Johnson officiating. Reception immediately after and graveside service to follow at Sunset Memorial.