Brown, Donald R. 1935-2026 Springfield, Mo.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Donald Richard Brown, age 90, passed away of natural causes in his home on Feb. 4, 2026. He was born in St. Joseph to Belva and Robert Brown on March 26, 1935.
After graduating from Benton High School, he enrolled in St. Joseph Junior College, where he met his future wife, Janet Kay Waller. Janet and Don were married in 1957 and spent 68 very happy years together until Janet’s death in November. They had two daughters, Kelley and Andrea.
Don joined the Missouri Air National Guard in 1953 and worked for 10 years in aircraft maintenance at Rosecrans Airfield before returning to college. He remained in the Guard Reserves and retired as a captain after 20 years of service.
In 1972, Don graduated at the top of his class from UMKC School of Pharmacy and shortly thereafter the family moved to Springfield for Don to start his pharmacy career. Throughout his career he worked in retail pharmacy, established a pharmacy in Marionville, worked in hospital pharmacy at Cox, and ended his career as a pharmacy consultant for long-term care facilities in and around Springfield. He served as the President of the Springfield Pharmaceutical Association and was on the Missouri State Board of Pharmacy from 1987-1992 where he also served as President.
Don was a talented woodcarver and painter, specializing in duck decoys, wooden boxes, and pen and ink watercolor drawings. He exhibited his art at many shows in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas, as well as Silver Dollar City. Don was a Life Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited and donated many decoys and boxes to fundraisers through the years, raising thousands of dollars “for the ducks.” He spent many happy hours in his shop and his studio, always working on something new up until the very end of his life.
Without consulting Janet, Don bought a cabin on Table Rock Lake in 1974, which became (and continues to be) the center of many happy family memories over the past 52 years. Don and Janet found joy in hosting family and friends there every summer.
Don also enjoyed fishing with his Guard buddies, duck hunting, traveling, and reading. He was a faithful member of Wesley United Methodist Church, and a volunteer with Friends of the Library. He was also a great dancer!
He was a wonderful father to Kelley and Andrea, and he took delight in his grandchildren. He was a devoted father and grandpa attending every sporting, dance, or school event that came around, and loved seeing his girls and his grandchildren start families of their own.
Don was preceded in death by his soulmate and wife Janet (Waller) Brown; his parents; his sister-in-law, Pat Waller; his brother-in-law, Michael Waller; and his brother, Douglas Brown.
He is survived by his daughters, Kelley Nichols and her husband Nelson, and Andrea Still and her husband Tony, both of the Springfield area. He has five grandchildren and two bonus granddaughters: Leah Joll (Seb), Logan Still (Missy), Lucas Still (Sarah), Sierra Stream (Tommy), Skyler Nelson (Chase), Lori Wolf (Tim), and Beth Nichols Beisner (Ryan). Don has 12 beloved great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Ray Bally (Omaha); sister-in-law, Mary Ann Waller (St. Joseph); brother-in-law, Gary Waller (Faucett); and many much-loved nieces and nephews in St. Joseph, Omaha, and Kansas City.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the Donald and Janet Brown Pharmacy Scholarship, UMKC College of Pharmacy, UMKC Foundation, 202 Administration Center, 5115 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO, 64112.
Online condolences may be made at www.gormanscharpf.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
