John "Bud" Brown

John “Bud“ Brown, 81, of Viola, Illinois died Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at home.

On Friday, July 29^th, recitation of the rosary will begin at 3:30 p.m. followed by visitation from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola.  Funeral Mass will be Saturday, July 30^th at 10:00am at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Matherville. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Viola. Memorials may be left for the Viola Fire Department.

Bud was born November 4, 1940 in Rock Island, IL the son of Matthew and Margie (Robson) Brown. He was a lifelong resident of Viola. He graduated from Winola High School in 1958 and attended Western Illinois University. He worked at Shale City Brickyard and on the family farm prior to being drafted into the Army. Upon discharge, he worked at Farmhouse Foods and later at Highland Springs Golf Course. Bud married Elaine Wenzel on May 9, 1970 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bryant, IA. They were married 52 years at the time of his passing.

Bud was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Vola. He was active in the Viola Hardball Association for many years and coached little league baseball. Bud loved sports. He had a beautiful left-handed jump shot. He also loved to play and coach baseball. In the Army, playing baseball got him out of KP duty. Later, he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren playing sports. He was a huge Notre Dame Football and Chicago White Sox fan. It was rare to see him without a Notre Dame or Sox hat on his head. After retirement, Bud enjoyed his daily coffee chats with his buddies.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Elaine; children; Gary (Connie) Brown of Sherrard, Craig Brown of Milan., Kimberly Brown (Mike Goben) of Bettendorf, Kevin (Tiffany) Brown of Cape Coral, FL; grandchildren: Logan (Audrey) Lund of Taylor Ridge, Kate, Hunter, and Michaela Brown of Sherrard, Kingston and Maslin Brown of Cape Coral, FL; sister Judy (Duane) Dawson of Milan; numerous nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters in law, and cousins.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, in laws: Clarence and Mary Wenzel, grandsons Connor and William Brown, sister Sandy McMeekan, niece Mickie VanVooren, and brother-in-law Wesley Hesse.

The family would like to thank the Viola Fire Department, EMS, and Unity Point Hospice.