Brownson, Dallas Brian Saginaw, Michigan Passed away Thursday, April 23, 2015 at St. Mary's of Michigan at the age of 67 years. Dallas was born on April 23, 1948 in Flint, Michigan. He worked in the family business Brownson Fisher Wall Paper and Paint that was an anchor store in Downtown Flint for many years, located in the historic Paterson Carriage Factory building. When the business sold, Dallas worked as the manager for the historic building and owned/operated the Music Warehouse located there. His true profession was as a free-lance photographer, but his passion was history, historic buildings and railroads. Mr. Brownson alone worked to obtain a state historic designation for the Paterson (Brownson) Building in 1981 and had it placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1984. He was an original member of the Durand Union Station Model Railroad Engineers helping to create the popular historically to scale model train layout exhibit at Durand Union Station. Naturally, Mr. Brownson became involved in the restoration of the train station and was the full time volunteer archivist for the Margaret Zdunic Archive in the station for three years. Given his love of history, railroading and his volunteering spirit, in 2009, with the help of his wife, Mr. Brownson formed the National Railroad Memorial, Inc., a nonprofit corporation dedicated to honoring the men and women of the railroad industry by building a national railroad memorial in a beautiful park in downtown Durand. At his death, he served as President of the corporation and was working with the City of Durand to build the memorial and park. However, first and foremost, Dallas Brownson was a loving husband and partner to his wife Jan and a devoted friend to his family and acquaintances. Dallas Brownson is preceded in death by his parents, Dallas and Shirley Brownson, and his sister, Mary Anne Brownson. Mr. Brownson is survived by his wife Janice (Conrad) Brownson of Saginaw; his brother, Robert Conrad of Durand; his sister Wanda Callagy of New York; his sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Glen McCarthy of New York and his nephews, Kevin Callagy, Christopher Callagy, Kyle McCarthy and Daniel McCarthy. Memorial service will take place at a date and place to be announced later. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the National Railroad Memorial, Inc., PO Box 5175, Saginaw, MI 48603. www.casefuneralhome.com
Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company Mackinaw Funeral Chapel
4480 Mackinaw Road
Saginaw, MI
US 48603