Rodger Brown Obituary

Rodger Brown, 79, of Oskaloosa, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa.

Rodger Lee Brown, the seventh of eight children born to Leonard Walter and Nancy U. (Padgett) Brown, was born December 14, 1946, in Mahaska County. He attended country school in Mahaska County and later Oskaloosa schools. Rodger entered the Army on April 7, 1964, and served 13 months in Korea. He was honorably discharged on April 6, 1967, and returned to Oskaloosa, where Maytag hired him in Newton, Iowa. He worked at a few other factories before starting his own painting service in the mid-1970s. He retired in June 2016 after serving the community for over 40 years.

Rodger married Linda Beason in September 1967, and to that union, three daughters were born. They later divorced. He married Kathy (Kinkade) Kirby on February 4, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Through the years, Rodger enjoyed coon hunting, trapping, fishing, mushroom hunting, and vacations out west, including several trips to Las Vegas. He also enjoyed cheering for his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's many sports activities. His favorite trip was a family vacation in Cancun, Mexico.

Rodger was a member of the American Legion and a Life Member and officer of the VFW. He enjoyed many friends through those organizations and, for many years, served on the Oskaloosa Honor Guard. Rodger will be truly missed for his ready smile and his wonderful sense of humor.

His family includes his wife, Kathy Brown of Oskaloosa; his daughters and their spouses: Tami (Thad) McVey, Tina Weber and Angie (Mike) Smith, all of Oskaloosa; a step-son, Shawn Kirby (Misty Steen) of Moulton; seven grandchildren: Haley (Tim) Vanderpol, Kael (Paige) Comstock, Katlyn (Isaac) Minter, Drake (Amelia) Lourens, Rachel Kerby, Reed (Gwyneth) Smith, and Shila Breedlove; ten great-grandchildren: Noah, Eli, Violet, Addilynn, Elliot, Wrenlee, Layla, Ronan, Juliana, and one great-grandson due in January; his siblings: Jean Workman of Des Moines, Ann Giesel, and Shirley Carlson (Rex Padgett) , both of Oskaloosa and a sister-in-law, Lola Brown of Oskaloosa.

In addition to his parents, Rodger was preceded in death by his brothers, Larry and Charles Brown; two sisters and brothers-in-law, June (Benny) Steele, and Charleen (Ed) Moore, and Al Workman.

Funeral Services for Rodger will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Rev. Molly Goodrich of the First Christian Church officiating. Military Honors will be presented by the Oskaloosa Honor Guard. Cremation will follow the service and Rodger's ashes will be interred at Highland Cemetery near Eddyville. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., Friday; the family will greet visitors from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Memorials can be made to the Mahaska Health Foundation for the Hospice Serenity House.