Arthur Michael David “Mike” Browning
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Mike Browning of Lawrence died April 5, 2014 at the age of 68.
Mike was born January 31, 1946 in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was the son of Arthur and Katheryn Browning.
As a student at Lawrence High School, he played football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from LHS in 1964. He received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Kansas in 1968 and then a Masters in Administration from Emporia State.
He began his career as a teacher of English and Journalism at De Soto High School in 1969. While there he was a counselor and the head boys’ basketball coach. In 1980, he came back to his alma mater, LHS, as a counselor. While at Lawrence High, he was an assistant principal, vice principal, dean of students and associate principal. He served on the Penn House, Crime Stoppers and the Lawrence High School Alumni Association boards. He retired from Lawrence Public Schools in June of 2001.
Mike married Linda Jean Murphy on August 9, 1991.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Linda Boyd.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Browning; daughter, Christy Lindvall and husband Heath of Glen Allen, VA; daughter, Lori Howell and husband Mark of Lawrence, KS; six grandchildren, Erick Mayo, Cal Lindvall, Macy Howell, Kayla Lindvall, Molly Howell and Riley Howell; sister, Paula Rolsing and husband Tony; sister, Diana Boyd and husband Tom; sister, Kristin Black and husband Gary; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In his spare time, Mike enjoyed taking care of his grandchildren, going to Lawrence High sporting events, watching TV, going to the casino and playing practical jokes. His family was his true love, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching them in sporting events, dance recitals and at their school activities.
A celebration of life event will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Steve’s Place in Lawrence, Kansas. Please dress casually, bring your families and your favorite Mike Browning story to include in a scrapbook. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lawrence Lions Alumni Association for a Mike Browning Memorial Scholarship or the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, KS and sent in care of Warren McElwain Mortuary.
I am completely saddened to hear the news of your passing. You had such an impact on my life. I wish I could’ve shared some of them with you. You would be proud of me. Thank you for all you’ve done and thank you for being such am inspiration!
I will never ever forget you sir.
Love Always,
Anthony Garcia
Your friend
Mr browning was very helpful and someone that kept me focus during my senior year!! He was a great man and wonderful leader LHS was fortunate to have him! Thoughts are with his family thanks for sharing him with all of us.
Mike will be missed- he was such a great asset to LHS and I enjoyed getting to know him as a parent and co-worker. So sorry for this loss.
Mr.B you will be dearly missed by all you have influenced through out your years as a educator. God spend and prayers.
Tony Rockhold USMC RET. class of 86.
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Browning. He was an amazing school administrator and helped to make my high school days some of the best! You will be missed.
My prayers goes out to the Browning family I am sorry for the loss of your husband and father. Mr Browning was a very nice man and he was funny I was in his office alot when i was going to high school and he was always there to talk to and listen when someone was in trouble or just needed a friend to talk to he is going to be missed very much.
Wow My thoughts and prayers sent to his family. Mr
Browning was one of my favorite Deans. He will be
greatly missed.
Rip. You impact a lot of kids.
Mr browning will be missed because he had helped so many of us who went to lhs he always had time. When we would go on field trips he was
Always there making use smile
So sad to hear of your Passing! You always had a smile for those that passed your way! Your smile will be missed! May you rest in peace! God Bless you and yours! Kathy Houchin
Mr. Browning,
You are gonna be truly missed.
Condolences to the family.
You guys are in many prayers.
Mike rest in peace..gone but never forgotten..
Thank You sharing him.
Alot of us wouldn’t have made it
Through without Mr Browning..
Mike made my job at LHS so much easier and more enjoyable. He could relate to the most difficult students in the most difficult situations. He leaves a legacy through so many students who are successful because of his influence. Thoughts and prayers with his family at this difficult time.
Our condolences to Linda and their daughters and family. Mike has been a good friend for many years, and helped our son at LHS in several ways, so we will miss him very much. I will always remember Mike as a gentle man with a great sense of humor, and an enthusiastic tennis opponent and partner with a heck of a “dirty little drop shot”!!
We were so sadden to hear of Mike’s passing. Hank and Mike went to high school together and graduated in the class of 1964. When I was introduced to Mike I liked him right away. He was always so open and warm. All of our children attented LHS and Mike was so great with all the students and their families. He touched so many young peoples lives with support and truly cared about them and was totally committed to their success as a student. Mike had such a great smile and it always felt he was sincerely glad to see you. Mike made a difference as a mentor and role model to hundreds of kids. Mike will be so missed. He made the world a better place.
So sad to hear of Mr. Browning’s passing. He was one of my favorite people at LHS and had a lasting impact on so many students who passed through those halls. His legacy lives on in the hundreds of lives he touched. He will truly be missed.
Mr. Browning was one of my favorites and he had an impact on my life. Much respect and rest in peace.
doozie
The measure of a man is not – “how did he die” but – “how did he live” not – “what did he gain” but – “what did he give” These are the units to measure the worth of a man, as a man, Regardless of birth. – Mr. Browning was an incredible giving and understanding beautiful man. He gave of himself and touched my life as well as many others and he will truly be missed. Our hearts are with you (his family), God Bless you all, Sheryl Cherry Class of 89
My heartfelt prayers and sympathy goes out to the Browning family during this hard time in your lives. Mike and I were friends from a long time back. Went ALL the way through school together, starting in Kindergarten (McAlster grade school). When both of my sons entered LHS, “Mr. Browning” was quite an inspiration to them. “You had better tow the line, mister! I know your mother, very well”, is what he would tell them. They remember Mike with a warm heart as well as I do. He will truly be missed by everyone that he came in contact with. A true friend, loving and compassionate person, and someone that touches ones heart forever. RIP Mike!!! I will miss you and we will all meet again, one of these days! LHS Class of ’64’ has lost a very dear friend, indeed!
Mr Browning was so helpful to me my sophomore an junior years. I was very sick both years and ended up being his aide so I could stay caught up on my assignments. In part, due to his help (along with other LHS staff) I was able to graduate with my class. He alway showed concern for me. When I was 18, it was an honor to be called to jury duty at the same time. What a great man.
Uncle Mike~The grapes – I will never forget the grapes. . . . What more is there to say 🙂 Linda, Lori and Christy — your love for him is amazing, he was such a lucky guy to have you all in his life. The way you never left his side at the end was so touching. . . . Love you all!
I always enjoyed crossing paths with Mike and know I am one of many to feel that way. A kind man with a genuine smile and sharp wit that helped make the day brighter. Lawrence has lots of good men and women but none warmer or better than Mike. Many blessings upon the Browning family just as Heaven is blessed today.
We were so saddened to ready about Mike’s passing. Our thoughts are with you.
So sorry to learn of your loss. My thoughts will be with all of the Browning family.
This news breaks my heart. I just had the opportunity to see Mr. Browning at a restaurant only a few weeks ago with his wife and grand son. He remembered me after all these years. He was always so kind and never carried an administrator swagger. He was down to earth and truly cared about every kid. I remember someone pulled out in front of me near the LHS football fields and Mr. Browning came running across the field to check on us. He made it all seem a whole lot less frightening. A wonderful man and a great loss. My heart goes out to his family.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I know that it is unmeasurable, and I pray that God will guide you through your grief as He did me when I lost my husband. Mike’s loss will be felt by all who knew him. Mike and I were friends since childhood and graduated together in the LHS Class of ’64. He was a great friend to me when we were growing up and I have great memories. Mike has left a living legacy in the decades of kids he mentored through LHS. Not only was he a good friend to me in the ’50s and ’60’ of our childhood, but later when my five kids walked the hallowed halls of LHS, Mike was always there for them and they knew that they could go to Mr. Browning any time they needed. Without him their transition from high school to college would have been far more bumpy than it was!
Mike, I will always be grateful to you for those years. May you rest in peace my dear friend, and may your family be comforted in knowing they were blessed with the very best.
Linda and Browning Family,
We lost a wonderful man! In my 31 years at LHS, I always knew that I could rely on Mike for support, inspiration, and guidance! He got me through many difficult, stressful times with his usual grace, easy-going manner, smiles and good will! He appreciated my lack of subtlety by always saying how much he liked my candor as he knew where he stood with me! I truly appreciated his understanding of my nature; I could just be myself with him!!!! I was genuinely a far better person, professional and educator for having known Mike!! For all those that he touched, his teachings will continue into the following generations as lessons given by his living legacy, all his students. He is forever in my heart as a dear friend and colleague with unconditional respect fondness, and admiration.
Linda -I was so sorry to hear of Mike passing. I worked with mike at LHS Health. So willing to help me if I needed help. Cindy Murray & now Mike. I lost my husband I 2009 so Linda my heart goes to you. Hang in there and God will see over you . Georgia Howell
Dear Linda,
So sorry Mike had this battle with health.
We were at your wedding. I’m so happy he
found you and the girls. He was a wonderful guy.
You all had some really great years together.
Sincerely,
Laura and Joe Fix
Was so sorry to hear of Mike’s passing. He cared so much about kids, without him I don’t know if my sons would have made thru LHS. Thank you Mike for all you did.
Butch and Cindy Hout
Mike will be missed! Deeply sad to hear about his passing.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the Browning family.
Mike was my supervisor/evaluator at Lawrence High School. His support and guidance made me a better teacher; his creative application of school rules on behalf of students gave me hope. Mike’s most memorable advice: “On the first day of school it is more important to get to know your kids than it is to go over the classroom rules”.
I just learned of Mike’s passing after googling him today. I am so sad. He was my teacher, my counselor, my coach and most of all my friend. High school had many ups and downs and the most impactful person through those formative years was Mike. He was the big brother/uncle/father that was always there for me with a lesson, a joke, a thoughtful ear, a smile, and even a hug. After leaving Desoto High School in 1977, I saw Mike a few more times but lost touch, always thinking that I’d call sometime. Though I wish I had, I never did. I have thought about him many, many times over the years and have always felt privileged to have known him and I am a better man for having known him. My deepest sympathy to his family.
Only three teachers really had a profound impact on me, Mr. B, and you were one of them. I will never forget you and your passion for life and the people around you…RIP Sir…
Jack Rush
DeSoto High, Class of 71