Donald Nelson Brown
February 1, 1937 – February 18, 2026
Dr. Donald Nelson Brown, a distinguished anthropologist and devoted family man, passed away on February 18, 2026, at the age of 89.
Don spent the majority of his career as a cultural anthropologist at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he was on faculty from 1971 - 2002 and made numerous contributions to his field, particularly Native Americans of the Southwest. He earned his Bachelors degree at Harvard University and his PhD at the University of Arizona, which shaped his scholarly pursuits and intellectual curiosity. As a Fulbright Scholar, he worked in New Zealand, and as an OSU faculty member he taught for a year in Kameoka, Japan, and for a year at the Oklahoma Seoul Twining Institute in Seoul, South Korea.
Throughout his life, Don maintained deep and lasting connections with the communities of Picuris and Taos Pueblos in New Mexico, where he was respected and cherished as a dedicated friend and colleague. His work reflected a genuine commitment to understanding and honoring the cultures and peoples with whom he developed lasting friendships. He was also a well-respected and published ethnomusicologist. Following his retirement, he and his wife Lynda moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a place they deeply loved and lived for 17 years. They moved to Huntley, Illinois in 2019 near Lynda’s sister Sharon and their son Stephen and family.
Beyond his academic endeavors, Don was a passionate collector and lover of the arts. He assembled a remarkable collection of works by Southwest, Korean, and Japanese artists, as well as prehistoric artifacts, reflecting his refined aesthetic sensibilities and his appreciation for diverse artistic traditions. In Santa Fe, he and Lynda were active in Santa Fe Indian Market and Santa Fe Jin Japanese Intercultural Network.
Don is survived by his children Stephen Brown (and his wife Jennie Oh, along with grandsons Cameron and Nathan) and Natalie Kissel (and her husband William, along with grandsons Theo, Alex, and Nicholas). He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Lynda Brown, his brother Vernon Keith Brown, and his parents Kenneth and Audrey (Nelson) Brown.
The family will greet friends from 12-1pm with a memorial service celebrating Don's life will be held on April 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee-Huntley Rd, Huntley, IL 60142.
Don will be remembered as a dedicated father, a respected scholar, and a cherished friend to many.
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