Elmer Brown

Elmer Robert Brown, 96 of Union passed away peacefully at home on January 26, 2019.

Funeral is from the Galante Funeral Home, 2800 Morris Ave. Union on Saturday at 9 AM. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Michael's Church in Union at 11 AM. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation is on Friday from 5-9 PM at the funeral home.

Born in Weehawken, Elmer grew up in Jersey City and raised his family there before moving to Union many years ago. A proud veteran of the United States Air Force, Elmer served in the 366th Squadron, 358th Fighter Group throughout Europe, flying his P47 Thunderbolt. After the war, Elmer took a job at Japan Airlines, and worked there for 30 years, retiring as a regional sales manager when he was 65.

Elmer was very active at St. Paul's Church in the Greenville section of Jersey City. An avid gardener, he could always be found tending to his roses, figs and other plants with love. Mr. Brown had such a good green thumb, he would bring back branches from his travels, and adapt them into his home garden. Elmer was also a talented handyman and wood worker, completing any project he set his mind to. This is most evident in his interests after retirement, when at 65 years old, he began building computers, gifting one to each of his 20 grandchildren! Mr. Brown was a simple man who loved music, adored his family and taught his children well, bestowing upon each of them a wonderful gift; a trade they could use for their entire lives.

Elmer leaves behind his beloved wife Dorothy Brown (nee Scheper); his loving children Robert Brown and his wife Georgie, Karen Herson and her husband Mark, Donna Brown, Janice McHugh and her husband Guy, Mary Brown, Maggie Kelly and her husband Kevin, Kathy Trifon and her husband James, Dorothy Errazuriz and her husband Victor, and Carolyn Galvin and her husband Sinon. He survived by his dear grandchildren David, Jennifer, Laura, Kelly, Megan, Kyle, Kaitlyn, Brandon, Lauren, Brianna Lee, Justin, Melissa, Victor, Nicholes, Sebastian, Veronica, Aaron, Sarah, Connor and Alanna. Elmer is also survived by his 13 great-grandchildren, his brother William Allen Brown, and by his brother and sister-in-law Walter and Iris Scheper.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Elmer's memory may be made to the VA NJ Health Care System.