James Walter Brown, 54, of Topeka, KS, passed away unexpectedly, Saturday, April 1, 2023 at his home. He was born February 1, 1969 in Aspen, CO, the son of James Norman and Rose Marie (Sewell) Brown.

James attended Burlington High School and later earned his GED. He had lived in the Topeka community since 2014 and previously in Florida for 5 years and Tennessee for 11 years.

He proudly served in the United States Army during Desert Storm and in the invasion of Kuwait with the 2-34 Armor Battalion; he was chemically disabled during this time. Before his disability, James was a very skilled brick mason. Among many projects, he also did masonry work at the Valley Falls Cemetery and the historical Shrine Church of Valley Falls. Over all, he was a "Jack of all trades".

James was a member of the Emmaus Baptist Church in Topeka and helped with the maintenance and landscaping. He was a former member of Grahem-Herbers V.F.W. Post 3084, Harvesters Regional Food Bank and former instructor for Hunters Education.

He married Melissa "Missy" A. Schrecengost on March 14, 1992 in Maryland. They celebrated over 31 years of marriage.

Survivors include his wife Missy of the home; his father and step-mother, James and Rosanne Brown of Mesa, AZ; 4 sons, Zachariah A. Brown (Lyndsay) of Forsyth, IL, James W. Brown, Jr. of Topeka, KS, Jonathan D. Brown of Topeka, KS and Joseph N. Brown of Watertown, NY; 2 sisters, Robin McFarlin (Gary) of Tomball, TX and Pamela Morton (Jeff) of Brevard, NC; grandson, Aaron M. Brown and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rose Marie Brown in 1990 and a sister, Christina Dawn Brown in 2013.

Family will greet friends 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2023 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials may be given to Mercer Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088.