Date of death: 2/12/2026
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1962
Mr. Gerald F. “Jerry” Brown, age 89, of Fairview, Indiana, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, February 12, 2026. He was born May 21, 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Charles William and Mary Eileen (Russell) Brown. Jerry was raised in a loving home until 1956 when he entered the Benedictine Monastery at Saint Meinrad Indiana. He held many roles during his long and fruitful life as a monk, assistant pastor, graduate student at Indiana University Bloomington (Master’s degree), high school teacher, social worker at the county and state level in Indiana, loving father, grandfather, and husband. Jerry was united in marriage to Donna Jines Brown and this union was blessed with a son Brian and a daughter Andrea Michelle. He was later united in marriage to Ellyn Rutenschroer Kern on September 16, 1978 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jerry was a loving stepfather to four children. He and his wife owned and operated a campground for 51 years. Jerry was a writer of his family history and a writer of a monthly local weather article for many years. He was a lover of nature and a life of voluntary simplicity. Jerry was a member of the Most Sorrowful Mother of God Catholic Church in Vevay, Indiana.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Ellyn Louise (Rutenschroer) Kern of Fairview, IN; his son, Brian Brown and his wife, Erin Case of Brownsburg, IN; his daughter, Andrea Michelle Brown Butler and her husband, Ron of New Palestine, IN; his step daughter, Debbie Wildrick and her husband, Douglas Dickson of Naples, FL; his step sons, Douglas Kern and his wife, Tammy of Rehoboth Beach, DE, Lincoln Kern of Australia, and Bennett Kern and his fiancée, Carla Perry of Lawrenceburg, IN; his grandchildren, Alana Case-Brown, Jessica Butler, and Mason Butler; his step grandchildren, Ashley, Braden, and Kelsey; his several step-great-grandchildren; his brother, Alvin Joseph Brown and his wife, Jane of Louisville, KY; and his nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles William and Mary Eileen (Russell) Brown; his brothers, Edwin Brown, died at age 2, Charles “Cha” Brown, and Ray Brown; his sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Brown and Joan Brown; and his step-grandson, Joshua “Josh” Kern.