Wilbert 'Will' Brown, 78

Wilbert 'Will' Brown left this life on earth to be with his Lord for eternity April 8, 2024, in Hayden, Idaho.

Will was welcomed into this life Sept. 8, 1945, by his parents, Hubert and Esther Brown of Haxtun, Colo. Will's first home was a 600-square-foot, two-room farmhouse east of Haxtun.

Will was the oldest of three boys. He was joined on the family farm by brothers LaVern in 1948 and Milton in 1955. The family moved into a new home their father built while not farming. Growing up on the family farm gave Will a great work ethic and a love for anything mechanical.

Will was baptized and confirmed in the Immanuel Lutheran Church.  He attended the Haxtin school system and graduated with the Class of 1963.

At the age of 17, Will enlisted in the Navy. While in the Navy, he was stationed in many locations, including Memphis, Tenn., Midway Island and, finally, Alameda Navel Air Station. In 1965, he completed his training as an aircraft mechanic. While completing his training, he met his future wife, Nona, and her daughter, Tamara (Tammy). As Tammy's stepfather, he did everything for her. His role was bigger than the wonderful things he did for others. Giving 100% of his love as her father and spending the next 57 years in their love. During their time together, Nona and Will were blessed with two beautiful grandchildren, Kelley Villa, her Papa's little girl even after 30 years, and Stephen Villa, a partner in the love of mechanics. Will looked forward to their many visits to Idaho. Winters in the snow, summers bike riding the Hiawatha Trail. Will always planned something special for his grandchildren, like a trip to Mt. Rushmore, Devils Mountain and the Grand Coulee Dam.

Will took great pleasure in his extended family. Christopher, the son of his brother Vern and Nancy Brown won Will's heart at an early age, and Chris enlisted him in filming his activities and becoming an umpire for his baseball games. To Sharnay, daughter of Milton and Nancy Brown, he became a second father while she was attending college in Moscow, Idaho. Will tracked many swimming events of Keaton Brown, son of Milton and Nancy, from when he was a young boy through college.

After the Navy, he worked various jobs until settling on his future career as a master crane mechanic with Matson Industries in the Port of Oakland, Calif. Will's boss said, "He could always find a way to fix anything." He was greatly respected in his field.

After he retired from Matson, Will and Nona moved to Hayden, Idaho, and built the life of his dreams, including a home he and Nona designed. Retirement meant 20 acres of green trees. After constructing their home, Will spent his retirement building barns, restoring tractors, using his new John Deer, and planning another hunting trip with his hunting companion and friend of 50 years, Ed Gilmore. Every day, Will loved feeding the deer, birds, and animals who wandered onto his property. Maybe not loving shoveling the 18 inches of snow that might fall overnight or shooing a pesky bear.

Will was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Esther Brown; aunt and uncle Clemens and Beulah Einsphar; and nephew Christopher Brown. 

Wilbert leaves behind his wife, Nona; daughter, Tammy Villa (Chip); granddaughter Kelley Villa; grandson, Stephen Villa; brother LaVern Brown (Nancy); brother Milton Brown (Nancy); niece Sharnay Wegar (Travis) and son Grayson; nephew Keaton Brown (Annie); and many loving cousins and friends in California, Idaho and Colorado. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The memorial service will be held Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Haxtun, Colorado. A luncheon will follow.