Alan "Big Al" Brown

Memorial service for Alan Jeffrey "Big Al" Brown, 56, of rural Eveleth, will be 11am Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with Pastor Matthew DeNoyer officiating. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Al died Monday, March 5, 2012 at Essentia Health in Duluth. He was born Feb. 29, 1956 in Springfield, MN and was baptized and confirmed at Zion Luthern Church in Sanborn, MN. He attended Zion Lutheran School thru the 8th grade and later graduated from Sanborn Public School. Al married Roselle Alto on Sept. 15, 1984 at the Sand Lake Chapel. They owned and operated Big Al's Bar in Gilbert until Sept. 2009. For 20 years they sponsored an annual dart tournament with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society in memory of many family and friends affected by the disease. Al loved singing country music and playing his guitar, spending time with his nieces and nephews, fishing and hunting deer and grouse, and riding his ATV he called "Black Beauty." Survivors include his wife, Roselle Alto Brown; siblings, Eugene (Cheryl) Brown, Donna (John) Bonham, Kevin (Vicki) Brown, Mary (Dale) Fennern, Kelly Pankonin and Patti (Ken) Sell; nieces and nephews, Deric Brown, Clint Brown, Josh Brown, Mykia Lundberg, Samantha Runge, Izaac Brown, Jordan Radtke, Katrina Mayeaux, Angie Stolts, Nathan Brown, Tiffany Sevcik, Evan Brown, Robbe Fennern, Elise Schoer, Cody Fennern, Ethan Fennern, Ashley Sell, Amanda Sell, Hannah Sell, Carlee Sell, Michael Patregnani, Theresa Patregnani, Kathy Patregnani, Steve Patregnani, Anita Patregnani, Jeff Walters, Kris Walters, Sarry Swindle, Jace Walters, Molly Walters Mincy, Sara Graff, Darin Alto, Brian Alto, Zach and Tanner Alto and Kirianna; brother-in-law, Roger Alto; sisters-in-law, Virginia Patregnani, Marilyn Lemonds and Sharon Alto. He is preceded in death by his parents, Evan Brown and Jean Anderson Brown Pankonin; step father Ray Pankonin; father and mother-in-law, Sulo and Eleanor Alto; grandparents, John and Mary Brown, Alfred and Ardella Anderson; brother, Ricky Brown; nephew, Jeromy Radtke; sister-in-law, Kay Alto; best canine friend, Duke.