Richard "Dick" Brown

Richard “Dick” J. Brown, age 94 of Kankakee, passed away Sunday, December 7, 2014 at his home. He was born August 7, 1920 in Chebanse, the son of James Leo and Ella Jane Cunningham Brown. He married Pearl Olsen March 2, 1946 at Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee. She preceded him in death November 25, 2013. Mr. Brown retired from Keebler after 30 years of service. He later worked for Edy’s and retired after 10 years of service. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during WWII. He was a loving husband. Faith and family were most important in his life. Dick was a very hard working man and was known as the go-to-guy. In earlier years, Dick enjoyed playing basketball. He later enjoyed watching college basketball, especially the Big 10. Surviving are two sons and one daughter-in-law, Larry (Marianne) Brown of Carol Stream, Dale Brown (Mary Orban) of Kankakee; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Carol (Jim) Tolzien and Maryann (Denny) Wright, all of Davie, FL; 17 grandchildren, Christina O’Connor, Lori Mashal, Cari Davidson, Dan, Katelyn and Emily Tolzien, Jackie, Abbey, Jimmy, Brian “Boomer,” Tim and Becky Brown, Amy Cradock, Jill Narrett, Erik and Erin Wright and Bobby Kaczanowski; 16 great-grandchildren, Megan, Mallory and Michael O’Connor, Joseph and Isabella Mashal, Lucas and Savannah Tolzien, Nina Klein, Connor, Rory, Cameron and Cullen Cradock, Cailin Brown, Lily Wright, Tanner Voss and Mackenzie; one brother, Charles “Pat” (Martha) Brown, of Lincoln, NE; one sister, Marilyn Narrett of Kankakee; two sisters-in-law, Blanch Carpenter of Astor, FL and Helen Marie Olsen of Sugar Land, TX. He is preceded in death by his parents; one son, Barton Brown; four brothers, John, Bernard, Ed, and Leo Francis Brown; two brothers-in-law, Alvin Olsen and Tom Carpenter; and one sister-in-law, Norma Brown. Visitation will be held 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais. His funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 11, 2014 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where Dick & Pearl attended daily Mass for many, many years. Rev. Don Wehnert will celebrate the mass. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley or St. Patrick Catholic Church. He never went to bed at night without saying, “Good night Pearl, I love you.”

Richard "Dick" Brown

August 7, 1920 - December 7, 2014