Image Courtesy of Bill Browning
Ninja
Seattle, Washington
1983 - 1986

Members
 

Joel Brazy ~ Keyboards
Bill Browning ~ Drums
Jamie Dunlap ~ Guitar
Grant Gittins ~ Guitar
Dennis Glen ~ Bass
Dean Johnson ~ Keyboards, Vocals
Donnarae Johnson ~ Vocals
Lynda Kimball Andrews ~ Keyboards, Vocals
Don Krieder ~ Guitar, Vocals
Rick Metz ~ Saxophone
Kerry Mogen ~ Trumpet, Vocals
Scott Pedersen ~ Keyboards
Michael Schaitel ~ Bass, Vocals
Von Zimmerman ~ Keyboards, Vocals
 

In Memory of

Bill Browning
August 1955 - September 2010

Grant Gittins
August 1961  -  January 2010

Kerry Mogen
July 1950 -  June 2010

Bill Browning

Valley Hills Funeral Home, Yakima
26 September 2010

Bill was born August 29, 1955 in San Diego, CA. He was raised in Yakima and moved to Seattle when he was 18 to follow his one true love of being a drummer. He played in several bands in the Seattle-Tacoma area. He moved back to Yakima to be close to his family.  For the last couple of years Bill had been playing at open jam nights at JackSons and the Speakeasy.  Bill was easygoing, friendly and had a great smile. He had many friends and will be missed by all. His main job has been to look after his mother and sister, which could be a full time job. God must have needed another drummer in His band.

He is survived by his loving mother Billie Browning and loving sister Debrah Criswell, both of Yakima; his half brother Ryan Browning and his best friend and brother in music, Shane Harmon of South Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his father Joe Browning.

He was loved and will be dearly missed. Rock on Bill!! For the love of Duke, the family dog, please send any donations to the Yakima Humane Society in lieu of flowers. Send condolences at www.valleyhillsfh.com.

Kerry Mogen

July 17, 1950 – June 20, 2010

Kerry E. Mogen, 59, Sioux Falls, died Sunday, June 20, 2010 at the Dougherty Hospice House.

Memorial services will be 1 pm Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Sonrise Baptist Church of Sioux Falls with Rev. Jesse Moore officiating.

Kerry was born on July 17, 1950 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  His parents were Donald and Esther Mogen. Kerry spent the early years in St. Paul, MN and then moved to Aberdeen at the age of ten.  He graduated from Aberdeen Central and went on to Northern State College.  While in school, he married Dianne Nelson in 1971 and had a daughter, Stacy Lynn.  Soon there after, Kerry changed his vocational plans and headed to Minneapolis, MN and launched a musical career that carried him all around the world playing with various bands and varieties of music. In 1980, Kerry married Donna Geiger in Cincinnati, OH and soon they had a son, Ryan.  On June 3, 2000, Kerry married Connie Crook-Jungwirth back in Aberdeen, SD.

Kerry spent his entire life pursuing his great love of music.  His was a skilled trumpet player, vocalist, keyboard player and even taught himself how to play drums.  He was a very entertaining musician and “front man” for several bands.  The last group he was with, The Great Unknowns, even played the stage of the SD State Fair.  Kerry was also involved with his church praise band at Sonrise Baptist Church in Sioux Falls.

Survivors include his wife, Connie, Sioux Falls; his father, Donald Mogen, Davie, FL; a son, Ryan Mogen, Midland, TX; a daughter, Stacey (Barry) Ellis, Miles City, MT; a step-daughter, Amy Jungwirth, Sioux Falls; a brother, David (Michelle) Mogen, Davie, FL and seven grandchildren.

Kerry was preceded in death by his mother, Esther.

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Don Kreider, Von Zimmerman, Lynda Kimball Andrews, Michael Schaitel, Kerry Mogen, Bill Browning
Image Courtesy of Lynda Andrews

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Grant William Gittins, Aug. 3, 1961 - Jan. 17, 2010

Grant Gittins, beloved son, brother, uncle and friend passed away January 17, 2010.  Grant is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Gittins of Bothell, WA; sisters, Mickey Gittins Stott of Fairfield, MT and Pat Gittins Walker, of Issaquah, WA; and loving companion, Erika Cailao; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Grant devoted his life to his art. He was an outstanding vocalist and masterful guitarist. He was a kind, loving soul whose life enriched his family, friends, students and co-workers.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, January 22, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 16500 124th Ave NE, Woodinville,  WA.

HeraldNet, Everett, WA    20 January 2010

Jamie Dunlap and Bill Browning started Ninja after leaving The Neil Rush Band.

Bill Browning, July 2009

Courtesy of Bill Browning

Some of the other Pacific Northwest music groups represented in this group include: Pyramid, Jump Street, Alibi, Mercenary, Centerfold, Shyanne, Metro, Artisan, St. Jayne, Chain Raction, Pop Culture, Nico Wind, Jagz and many other NW bands.

If you have corrections, a neat photo or more information, please send it to:


22 June 2015
Credits:  Donnarae Johnson, Grant Gittins, Bill Browning, HeraldNet, Erika Cailao, Rick Metz, Dean Johnson, Lynda Andrews