Kelly Nelson’s visit to the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King was intended to find a suitable place for her father, who was in the late stages of dementia.
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Kelly Nelson signs her new children’s book, “Brownie the War Dog: Veterans' Best Friend,” for Odin Immelmann, 4, of Madison. Nelson was part of an event on Aug. 22 at Lisa Link Peace Park in Madison hosted by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum to spread the word about a Wisconsin dog that was volunteered for service during World War II.
Brownie, in an undated photo, was born in 1941 and died in 1949 after being hit by a car. The dog remains a beloved figure at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, where he became a companion for many veterans.
Jesse Charles, of Verona, with daughter Annie, 12, and the family dog, a 5-year-old German shepherd-boxer mix, Maggie, follow along as Kelly Nelson reads “Brownie the War Dog: Veterans' Best Friend.” The reading was held at Peace Park in Madison's Downtown.
Kelly Nelson started research for the book in 2019 after a visit to the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, where she saw a small exhibit about Brownie.
Photos: Brownie the War Dog
Brownie, in an undated photo, was born in 1941 and died in 1949 after being hit by a car. The dog remains a beloved figure at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, where he became a companion for many veterans.
Palmer Kendley, Oren Kendley's father, is seen here with Brownie in an undated photo near the Indian Crossing Resort in Waupaca.
Brownie's headstone is displayed in the cemetery at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King. This fall a statue of Brownie will go up near the commandant's cottage overlooking Rainbow Lake.
Author Kelly Nelson reads her new children’s book “Brownie the War Dog: Veteran’s Best Friend” during an event at Lisa Link Peace Park, hosted by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, in downtown Madison, Wis., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
“Brownie the War Dog: Veteran’s Best Friend” is the first book by Kelly Nelson, who lives in Winchester, west of Neenah. The book was illustrated by Milwaukee native Aaron Boyd.
Author Kelly Nelson signs a copies of her new children’s book “Brownie the War Dog: Veteran’s Best Friend” for Odin Immelmann, 4, right, and his mom, Taryn Lindermann, of Madison, during an event at Lisa Link Peace Park, hosted by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, in downtown Madison, Wis., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
A crowd gathers at Lisa Link Peace Park as author Kelly Nelson reads her new children’s book “Brownie the War Dog: Veteran’s Best Friend.”
Kelly Nelson signs her new children’s book, “Brownie the War Dog: Veterans' Best Friend,” for Odin Immelmann, 4, of Madison. Nelson was part of an event on Aug. 22 at Lisa Link Peace Park in Madison hosted by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum to spread the word about a Wisconsin dog that was volunteered for service during World War II.
Author Kelly Nelson, left, signs copies of her new children’s book “Brownie the War Dog: Veteran’s Best Friend” for Marie and Ron Venden, of Belleville, during an event at Lisa Link Peace Park, hosted by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, in downtown Madison, Wis., Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. AMBER ARNOLD, STATE JOURNAL
Jesse Charles, of Verona, with daughter Annie, 12, and the family dog, a 5-year-old German shepherd-boxer mix, Maggie, follow along as Kelly Nelson reads “Brownie the War Dog: Veterans' Best Friend.” The reading was held at Peace Park in Madison's Downtown.
Jeremy Otto, of Sun Prairie, walks Marbles, a 12-year-old Catahoula Leopard dog mix, during a small dog parade on State Street that was followed by an author event with Kelly Nelson, who read from her new children’s book about a Wisconsin dog that was volunteered to serve in World War II.
Kelly Nelson started research for the book in 2019 after a visit to the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King, where she saw a small exhibit about Brownie.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
