Stephen Geoffrey Browning

From the flag he attached to his walker, to the pride he always expressed at being a veteran, Stephen Geoffrey Browning was patriotic to the end.

Steve was born on March 25, 1942 in Omaha, Nebraska, the first son and third child of Ormond Marion Browning, and Mary Ann Cech Browning. His father's job at the National Defense Training School in Omaha came to an end soon after the conclusion of World War II and Steve remembers that ""times were getting hard."" When he was about six years old the family moved to Iowa where they lived on a farm belonging to Steve's uncle. It was there Steve learned how to milk cows and harass chickens.

Another move took the family to Eugene, Oregon. Steve's memories of living in Oregon included gathering night crawlers and then selling them for 15 cents a dozen, collecting walnuts in gunny sacks, and picking green beans for 3 ½ cents a pound. On Saturday afternoons his father would take the whole family fishing in the Pacific Ocean or into town to see the Saturday matinee.

A final move for the family took them to El Paso, Texas, where Steve attended Austin High School. Right before his senior year he decided he had had enough of school and instead of registering for classes, enlisted in the United States Air Force. It was near the beginning of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War.

The day after enlisting, Stephen boarded a plane for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio to begin basic training. His next assignment was to Rapid City, South Dakota, where he was assigned to the Security Police Section, and later transferred to the Sentry Dog Section. During his fifteen years in the service, Steve also served in Greenland and Alaska. Although both places were pretty cold, Steve found being cold preferable ""to being shot at in Vietnam.""

He enjoyed very much working with the police dogs and had fond memories of one named King. He remembered that he only had to show King a command once and he would remember it from then on.

While in the service Steve also worked as a head of security and as a basic training instructor, before finishing his career in vehicle maintenance. He also completed 12 Extension courses and two GED certificates, of which he was very proud.

In 1966 Stephen married Karen Diane Ebnit in El Paso. He became stepdad to her son, Douglas Lyons, and the couple also had a daughter, Michelle Diane Browning.

After leaving the Air Force, Steve and Karen moved to Michigan, where Steve became a Welder with Morbark Industries and started a small business with a friend installing antennas and cleaning up yards and tree damage after ice storms. Things were going well until Morbark lost a multi-million-dollar contract, and the employees working on that project, including Steve, were laid off.

After not finding work in Michigan Steve decided to move to Denver and look for work there. Karen and the children stayed in Michigan. The marriage later ended in divorce. Steve married Linda Elaine Ogden in Colorado in 1981, but that marriage also ended in divorce.

Shortly after arriving in Denver, Steve was looking out the window of his apartment and noticed there was a lot of trash around the complex. He got a sack and went out and started picking it up. Unknown to him the apartment manager was watching him. After Steve returned to his apartment, there was a knock at his door, and it was the manager. After asking him if he needed a job, he hired him as an assistant manager. Steve was later asked to manage another set of apartments and enjoyed doing that for many years.

During that time, he also took night classes in computer programming at the Aurora Community College. Eventually he decided he was tired of managing apartments and worked in a variety of different places, including Wells Fargo Security, 7-11, Viron's Corn Stoves, and King Soopers.

Steve was a man of varied talents and abilities. There were few things he could not fix. He enjoyed figuring out why something was not working and then repairing it. He liked to build things and repair cars. He collected clocks, guns, and model ships, and enjoyed working with his short-wave radio. Unfortunately, he may have enjoyed going to garage and estate sales a little too much. He also enjoyed fishing and keeping up on politics.

In his later years, Steve became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was ordained an elder. He made friends wherever he went and will be missed by all who knew him.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Ormond and Mary Ann Browning; his stepson, Douglas Lyons; and his former wife Karen. He is survived by his daughter Michelle Knapp (Andrew), and three grandchildren, Angela, Dustin, and Megan. He is also survived by his sisters Mona Hoiland (Roy), Trina Parry (David), and Donna Smith (Ray).

Steve was laid to rest at Ft. Logan National Cemetery on May 13^th. Because of Covid-19 no services were held, but a memorial service will take place at a later date.

Rest in peace, Steve. You were a treasured friend and we will miss you.

 

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