January
27,
1948
27,
1948
October
18,
2022
18,
2022
Michael Joseph Brown, 74, of Winnebago, IL was surrounded by his family when he peacefully passed away on the morning of October 18, 2022 after battling metastatic colon cancer of the liver for the past 10 months. He was born on January 27, 1948 in Peoria, IL to Leonard and Betty (Cline) Brown. He married Daryl (Larsen) Brown on May 31, 1969 in Chicago, IL. They met in a mandatory art class that neither wanted to take at Eastern Illinois University in 1967.
Michael worked at many companies prior to starting his career with Caterpillar Inc. in Aurora, IL from which he retired after 32 years. He held many positions throughout his career at Caterpillar but he found the most fulfillment when he was working with new foremen as the 2nd Shift General Foreman where he was able to pass along the many things he learned in his previous roles as Safety Manager as well as Training Manager.
Prior to retirement, Michael was active at St. Mary’s church in Plano, IL where he served in the many facets of service but his favorite was the nine years he spent leading the high school youth group with his wife and other friends. Michael and Daryl owned and operated Little Rock Jewelers for over 20 years before retiring from Caterpillar and the jewelry business, at which point they sold the store to their daughter, Adrienne and moved to Sharps Chapel, TN in Sunset Bay on beautiful Norris Lake. Michael was one of the founding members of St. Teresa of Kolkata, the first Catholic church in Union County, TN where he was active in the choir, participated as lector, and was a member of the church council.
After the death of his daughter, Adrienne Brown, Michael and Daryl moved back to Illinois in 2016 to a farm in Winnebago, IL with their son, Greg Brown, and his family. Michael loved helping out around the farm, doing chores with the animals and spending hours on the mower making the property look like a park.
Throughout their lives, Michael and Daryl loved to travel. They started off in tents and after an encounter with torrential rains, a swamp, and some racoons, they upgraded to motor homes. He loved to tell people that he was able to take his kids to over 40 states and that he and the love of his life had seen all 50 states as well as Mexico and Canada. Their travels eventually brought them to Barefoot Bay, FL where they decided to give up the camping life and bought a small home and became snowbirds. Besides traveling and camping, Michael enjoyed so many activities including bowling, fishing, boating, swimming, and playing pinochle with the grandkids.
The last two years had been filled with illness and sporadic hospital stays, however, even with all of his illness, Michael kept his sense of humor and asked the hospitals if they offered any type of frequent stayer discount since it seemed he could not pass by a hospital without spending a night or two. One bright spot during his illnesses was his Morkie puppy, Missy (Mischief) Brown, who provided many hours of comfort and comic relief. Although Michael was initially diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2021 and shortly thereafter was declared cancer free after surgery was performed, five months later, he was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in his liver. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a battle that was impossible for him to win so after three months of chemo treatments, he made the decision to end any further treatments. Northern Illinois Hospice was contacted at that point to assist his family in providing home health care during the remainder of his life.
Michael had a deep faith in Christ as can be witnessed by his participation in the many churches and organizations he belonged to throughout his life. At the time of passing, he was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Micco, FL and a member of the Knights of Columbus, Third Degree in St. Joseph Council 7408 as well as Fourth Degree in the St. John Paul II Assembly 2932. He was also a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church in Loves Park, IL.
Michael leaves behind his wife, Daryl Brown; his son, Greg Brown and beloved daughter-in-law, Amy Brown; his sisters, Jean (Ron) McCane, Barb Smith, and Phyllis (Cordell) Fox; sister and brother-in-law, Gail and Mark Galter; grandchildren include, Devin (Sarah) Brown, Cameron Bowne, Zachary Bowne and fiancée Holly Lenke, Kiley Brown, Corbin Brown, and great granddaughter Leah Missig; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to list. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Betty Brown, his daughter Adrienne Brown, his nephew, Andrew Lomax Fox, and his Italian son (foreign exchange student) Michele Coppari.
Special thanks to Reverend Monsignor Steve Knox who will be officiating the services to be held at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 600 Clifford Ave, Loves Park, IL 61111 on October 31, 2022. Visitation for friends and family begins at 9:00AM at the church hospitality room until the funeral Mass begins at 10:00AM. A luncheon will follow the funeral Mass in the Church Community Center.
Special thanks also to Reverend Sean Grismer who will be officiating the burial services at Little Rock Township Cemetery, 14733 N. Center St. Plano, IL 60545. The burial service will begin at 10:00 AM on 11/3/2022 and is open to all friends and family.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the staff at Swedish American Regional Cancer Center as well as the staff at Northern Illinois Hospice for the loving care that they provided for Michael and his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northern Illinois Hospice, St. Bridget Catholic Church or to a charity of your choice in his name.
For more information or to sign the online guestbook, go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Michael worked at many companies prior to starting his career with Caterpillar Inc. in Aurora, IL from which he retired after 32 years. He held many positions throughout his career at Caterpillar but he found the most fulfillment when he was working with new foremen as the 2nd Shift General Foreman where he was able to pass along the many things he learned in his previous roles as Safety Manager as well as Training Manager.
Prior to retirement, Michael was active at St. Mary’s church in Plano, IL where he served in the many facets of service but his favorite was the nine years he spent leading the high school youth group with his wife and other friends. Michael and Daryl owned and operated Little Rock Jewelers for over 20 years before retiring from Caterpillar and the jewelry business, at which point they sold the store to their daughter, Adrienne and moved to Sharps Chapel, TN in Sunset Bay on beautiful Norris Lake. Michael was one of the founding members of St. Teresa of Kolkata, the first Catholic church in Union County, TN where he was active in the choir, participated as lector, and was a member of the church council.
After the death of his daughter, Adrienne Brown, Michael and Daryl moved back to Illinois in 2016 to a farm in Winnebago, IL with their son, Greg Brown, and his family. Michael loved helping out around the farm, doing chores with the animals and spending hours on the mower making the property look like a park.
Throughout their lives, Michael and Daryl loved to travel. They started off in tents and after an encounter with torrential rains, a swamp, and some racoons, they upgraded to motor homes. He loved to tell people that he was able to take his kids to over 40 states and that he and the love of his life had seen all 50 states as well as Mexico and Canada. Their travels eventually brought them to Barefoot Bay, FL where they decided to give up the camping life and bought a small home and became snowbirds. Besides traveling and camping, Michael enjoyed so many activities including bowling, fishing, boating, swimming, and playing pinochle with the grandkids.
The last two years had been filled with illness and sporadic hospital stays, however, even with all of his illness, Michael kept his sense of humor and asked the hospitals if they offered any type of frequent stayer discount since it seemed he could not pass by a hospital without spending a night or two. One bright spot during his illnesses was his Morkie puppy, Missy (Mischief) Brown, who provided many hours of comfort and comic relief. Although Michael was initially diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2021 and shortly thereafter was declared cancer free after surgery was performed, five months later, he was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in his liver. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a battle that was impossible for him to win so after three months of chemo treatments, he made the decision to end any further treatments. Northern Illinois Hospice was contacted at that point to assist his family in providing home health care during the remainder of his life.
Michael had a deep faith in Christ as can be witnessed by his participation in the many churches and organizations he belonged to throughout his life. At the time of passing, he was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Micco, FL and a member of the Knights of Columbus, Third Degree in St. Joseph Council 7408 as well as Fourth Degree in the St. John Paul II Assembly 2932. He was also a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church in Loves Park, IL.
Michael leaves behind his wife, Daryl Brown; his son, Greg Brown and beloved daughter-in-law, Amy Brown; his sisters, Jean (Ron) McCane, Barb Smith, and Phyllis (Cordell) Fox; sister and brother-in-law, Gail and Mark Galter; grandchildren include, Devin (Sarah) Brown, Cameron Bowne, Zachary Bowne and fiancée Holly Lenke, Kiley Brown, Corbin Brown, and great granddaughter Leah Missig; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to list. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Betty Brown, his daughter Adrienne Brown, his nephew, Andrew Lomax Fox, and his Italian son (foreign exchange student) Michele Coppari.
Special thanks to Reverend Monsignor Steve Knox who will be officiating the services to be held at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 600 Clifford Ave, Loves Park, IL 61111 on October 31, 2022. Visitation for friends and family begins at 9:00AM at the church hospitality room until the funeral Mass begins at 10:00AM. A luncheon will follow the funeral Mass in the Church Community Center.
Special thanks also to Reverend Sean Grismer who will be officiating the burial services at Little Rock Township Cemetery, 14733 N. Center St. Plano, IL 60545. The burial service will begin at 10:00 AM on 11/3/2022 and is open to all friends and family.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the staff at Swedish American Regional Cancer Center as well as the staff at Northern Illinois Hospice for the loving care that they provided for Michael and his family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northern Illinois Hospice, St. Bridget Catholic Church or to a charity of your choice in his name.
For more information or to sign the online guestbook, go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michael Joseph Brown, please visit our flower store.