Brownie's Long Road to Recovery

Hello family and friends. I am Bill Brown’s sister, Susan. Bill was better known as “Brownie” to employees at Penney’s Distribution Center, Lenexa, KS (1977 – 2005). He and his wife, Earlene (1979-2005), both worked at JC Penney’s.

Bill was diagnosed with 3 types of cancers --- melanoma, mantises and amyloidosis. Chemo and dialysis treatments are ongoing. On 10/20/2024 Bill fell on a flight of stairs fracturing his neck (C2) due to side effects of his cancer treatments. We are very thankful surgery was not required (after 9 days on fluid and diet restriction at KU), and he is doing well with the neck brace! He was transferred to Louisburg Health & Rehabilitation, Louisburg, KS for physical therapy and is now home with continuing physical therapy. He was 295 pounds in December of 2022, he is now down to 188 pounds at 6’5”. This is a result of the cancers and treatments.

Bill and Earlene have been retired for many years and currently only have their combined Social Security to meet all of their financial needs. They had retirement funds that augmented their Social Security, but after the past 17 years due to the economic downturn and other factors, all those funds have been depleted. During those same years, they were employed 14 years as Santa and Mrs Claus and worked many craft fairs. Because of Bill’s multiple cancers, effects of treatments, and now his broken neck, they no longer have that income.

FINANCIAL NEEDS:

Travels 88 miles-round trips up to 6 days per week for medical services.

- Gasoline and Food Costs related to the following, plus preexisting medical follow-up.

- Chemo: Weekly at beginning of treatment, now once a month

- Blood and Platelet Transfusions: 7 to date

- Dialysis: 3 days per week

Medical History, Treatments, and Health Maintenance: Bill, one knee replacement, multiple back surgeries, pain pumps; Earlene, 4 knee replacements, AFIB (atrial fibrillation). Earlene is also a breast cancer survivor.

Note: He recently purchased a Lift chair in order to go home from Rehab.

- Van Maintenance/Repairs Bill can no longer maintain, repair or rebuild their van, which has many recent issues.

Note: He has an oil “recipe” that enabled him to keep a new 1983 Chevy Citation on the road for 446,000+ miles on the speedometer when it was driven to the junk yard. The trunk was so rusted out that nothing smaller than a basketball stayed in the trunk! He got his money’s worth out of this. Oil Change/Treatment Recipe: Substitute one quart of oil with ½ quart transmission fluid and a pint of STP Oil Treatment for every oil change. Recommended to be started earlier in the engine’s life to have a better job.

One of their greatest joys in life was being Mr. and Mrs. Clause for 14 years --- Serramonte Center in Daly City, CA - 11 years; Oak Park Mall, Overland Park, KS - 1 year; Northwest Houston, TX - 1 yr; and College Station, TX - 1 year.

Work History

BILL: 1977 - 1988 Maintenance Electrical in all parts of the Plant

1988 – 1992 Maintenance Supervisor --- General Maintenance, Parts Cage, H-VAC, Lift Shop, Data Center Electrical, Electronics, etc.

1992 – 2005 – Engineering Department --- Data System Back-up Power and Layout of Installation (8 phases). During Phase Installation Penney’s flew Bill back to Lenexa from Texas 3 times for his assistance in installing the next phase of power which affected the data processing centers nationwide of JC Penney’s.

EARLENE: 1979 - 1998 A Receiving & Data 1998 – 2005 Factory Ship

DID YOU WORK WITH BROWNIE AND/OR EARLENE AT JC PENNEY’S WAREHOUSE IN LENEXA KANSAS? If you did, they would be delighted to hear from you. Feel free to respond in this GoFundMe. You may also contact my sister Susan with any questions and for assistance in reaching Bill and Earlene.

We are thankful for anything you can do. Whether donating or not, we ask your prayers and encouragement for Bill and Earlene and the rest of our family.