A lifelong resident of Montezuma, Frank Royce Brownell III passed away on June 18, 2025 after a lengthy illness. He was a week short of 86 years old. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Community Hope Church with the family present from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm to greet friends and relatives. A Masonic Service will be held Friday, July 11, 2025 at the Community Hope Church beginning at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brownells Foundation or DMMO (Des Moines Metro Opera). Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.
During his active career spanning almost sixty years, Frank became a well-known, beloved figure in the gun industry. He frequently welcomed long lines of friends at the Brownells booth during annual industry gatherings like SHOT Show and the NRA Annual Meetings and Conventions. He loved collecting guns, especially skillfully engraved and decorated ones, and enjoyed fine food, SCUBA diving, and music and art of many different kinds. He also had a great fondness for finely crafted miniature replica firearms, and Venetian glass paperweights.
Both Frank and the business that would become known as Brownells began in 1939 in Montezuma, IA, with Frank being born on June 24 of that year. The second of three children and only son of Brownells founder Bob and wife Lois, Frank became involved in both the family business and the American gun industry at an early age. In 1957, Frank appeared on the cover of the February issue of American Rifleman, photographed hunting mule deer near Devils Tower in Wyoming.
Frank was a 1957 graduate of Montezuma high school and earned a BA in Advertising in the School of Journalism from the University of Iowa in 1961, Magna Cum Laude. He married his college sweetheart Nancy Denton after completing Navy Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island. Shortly after the wedding, Frank reported to his duty station aboard the USS Caliente AO-53, a fleet oiler based out of Long Beach, California.
One of Frank’s first jobs for Brownells was shortly before he left the Navy in 1964. With the USS Caliente in port for overhaul in Portland, Oregon, Frank took leave and drove with wife Nancy to Los Angeles, CA, to work in the Brownells booth at the NRA Annual Convention and Meetings. One of the products he helped market at the show was the new Latigo Sling, a rifle sling Brownells still sells to this day.
Upon completing his military service, Frank joined Brownells full time in 1965, with his first major project laying out Big Book Catalog #18. Frank was active in all parts of the business, and helped publish the first of the Gunsmith Kinks series of books in 1969 under the name F. Brownell and Son.
Frank assumed the role of President at Brownells in 1983, taking over the day-to-day operations of the business from his father Bob. He served as President for 24 years, moving into the CEO role in 2007 when son Pete became the President.
In 2012, Frank passed the reins of CEO on to Pete and became the Chairman of the Board, a position he remained in until his passing.
Frank believed in giving back to the community and served on the Montezuma City Council for over fifty years and was Mayor Pro Tem for much of his tenure. He provided leadership on several boards including the Grinnell hospital board, the Wittington Center, the School of Journalism at the University of Iowa, and many firearms industry related organizations.
He was a fifty-plus year Mason, a member of York Rite, Scottish Rite and Za Ga Zig Shrine.
Above all else, Frank Brownell was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his sons and their spouses: Bob and Braedi, Pete and Helen, and Matt and Jodi. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Alex, Mairead, Aidan, Ruari, Jake and Kyle. Frank’s sister, Lynne and her husband Andy Boysen also survive him along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, his parents, Bob and Lois, and his sister, Diana.
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