Read Lance Wade Brownell's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Lance Wade Brownell

Citrus Springs

March 10, 1957 - December 12, 2017

Mar 10, 1957 - Dec 12, 2017

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Lance was born in New London NH in 1957. He was the youngest of five children of Bill and Mary Brownell. His siblings were Terre, Ilona, Ronald and Alan. He was eight years younger than his next oldest brother and was very much doted upon by his family. They resided in New London until Lance was a teenager when his parents bought his grandfathers dairy farm on 150 acres on land at the base of Forbes mt. As a retirement business, the family set out 2800 high bush blueberry bushes of different varieties. After ten years of patient care and cultivation. The blueberry farm opened and was much enjoyed by the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Lance met Andrea Wahlstrom in in 1978. the love story began… They married in April of 1980. Gifted to them by his parents, was two beautiful acres of of land on Eagle pond rd. in Wilmot NH. Lance and Andrea cut down the Hemlock trees on a frozen beaver pond and dragged them across the ice to be milled for their new log cabin. they built the entire house together with the help of a few friends. They were blessed with there first

daughter, Rhiannon Marie in 1980. Robyn Jade was born 2 years later in 1982. Both the children were born at home.

Lance was a stone mason by trade and built magnificent works of art of brick, fieldstone and granite. He was a true craftsman and participated in some outstanding restorations of historic homes in Maine and South Carolina. Lance could build just about anything with his hands. His masonry is marveled at to this day.

For recreation he enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing and mostly prospecting for minerals. He was an avid mineral collector and self taught geologist. He discovered beautiful aquamarine crystals at local mines that belonged to both his and Andrea's family. His collection is extensive. Some of the Aquamarine has been faceted into gemstones and were his greatest passion. He was a person who was happiest in the woods or on the water. He could tell you what plants in the forest were edible and what to avoid. This last summer in NH he did one last hike with Andrea to collect native American Ginseng roots which he ate frequently hoping to help fight the cancer is his blood.

Lance and Andrea enjoyed gardening together. Over the course of their 38 year marriage they planted many beautiful perennial gardens. Did there best to maintain two vegetable gardens as well. They would spend summer evenings in NH on the deck bordered by the flowers and listen to music while cooking on the grill. The vegetables homegrown.

Lance spent a lot of time in Arizona before he met Andrea. His sister Ilona lives there and he would visit often in the winter. After their marriage Lance and Andrea would travel to Arizona with the children to visit and attend the Tucson gem and mineral show. Lane detested shopping. But if it involved a gem show he was most enthusiastic. one year the family was camping in the mountains of Arizona and came upon a couple of horses. Rhiannon and Robyn assumed they were wild horses and was certain their Dad would catch them. He did, and they girls rode them for most of the next day.

Animals, both domestic and wild were also a treasure to Lance and Andrea and the girls. We had pet Ravens, a baby skunk even a baby bear until we could contact the proper facilities to care for them. Andrea wanted to buy the children a pony when the were little. Lance came home home with a 2000 lb. Draft horse for them. He claimed ponies were dangerous. The children rode the horse into the house one day when andrea had left the door open. But as usual, he was right, you could put several children on this horse and she would take them for a ride and bring them home safely. Bonnie was her Name.

Lance and Andrea also bread and raised German Shepherd dogs for over 25 years. we have one surviving Shepherd from the magnificent dogs. Lance took great comfort in their companionship during his long illness.

Lance and Andrea had been traveling the country in an RV for several years. Both daughters, son in law and Grandchildren live here in oFlorida, so in 2010 they bought a house in Citrus Springs. For several years they traveled back and for between NH and Florida. The would return to the cabin and tend to the gardens from May through October. Lance had retired from masonry but helped Andrea run her family business called the Ruggles Mine. The mine was open to the public for mineral collecting and Lance would guide the guests with their explorations and help to identify the various minerals. Mica, feldspar, quartz, garnet and aquamarine were the most common of the 150 different Minerals. He was also managing the maintenance of the property and equipment which was in constant need of repair. Lance was a doer and could literally fix anything.

Tragically Lance was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2015. Lance fought like no one I have ever seen. He faced the disease with courage and remained positive until the end. He will be greatly missed, still very much love and never forgotten.

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