Obituaries

John “JB” Raymond Brown, long-time resident of St. Ignace, Michigan, died on March 4, 2024, at Evergreen Assisted Living Center in St. Ignace at the age of 72. He was born on October 18, 1951, in St. Ignace to parents Claude Donald and Emma Loretta (Kailing) Brown.

JB grew up in St. Ignace where he graduated from LaSalle High School with the class of 1970. During school, he played the positions of halfback & defensive tackle in football and enjoyed being a part of the team. He delivered the local newspaper and worked at his mother’s store growing up. Instead of pursuing higher-level football, he joined the United States Marine Corps after graduation. JB served for eleven months before he was shot in active duty. He was medically discharged from service and returned to his hometown where he began his family and had three children. He endured more than twenty surgeries over the years and never once complained. When he was able, he delivered the newspaper and worked at his mother’s store.

JB was a Purple Heart recipient; a caretaker and a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church; as well as a member of the VFW and a volunteer firefighter.

JB enjoyed woodworking and was able to create many different trinkets and projects over the years. He was an avid fan of football and enjoyed catching the game on TV or going out to hunt and fish. He was known as a bit of a flirt but had a heart of gold; he was always there to help a friend in need. He will be greatly missed.

JB is survived by his daughter, Johnna (Ryan Gill) Brown of St. Ignace, grandchildren of his heart, Kameron Gill and Brady Gustafson; Dear Friend & caretaker, Mary Lounsberry, as well as seven siblings, Kenneth (Barbara Brown, Patti (Felix) Ingram, Janet (Tom) Brown, Mary (Dick) Huskey, Mike (Linda) Brown, Dennis (Cheryl) Brown and Richard (Denise) Brown, as well as many nieces and nephews.

JB is preceded in death by his parents; sons, Louis Brown and John Brown; Infants brothers, Steven and Bernard Brown; nephew, Josh Brown and great nephew, Tucker Shepard.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on March 21, 2024, from 11:00 AM till 1:00 PM at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in St. Ignace, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 PM with Father Dan officiating the service.

Burial will take place at St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery in the spring.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Evergreen Living Center Activities fund, 1140 N. State St., St. Ignace, MI 49781.