John Philip Brown, age 77, of Fennimore passed away on Thursday evening February 28, 2019 at the Divine Rehabilitation in Fennimore. He was born on November 17, 1941 in Three Oaks, MI, the son of John Milton and Eunice Mae (Phillips) Brown. John was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Roth on August 19, 1961 in Spring Arbor, MI.
Farming was John’s passion in life and he was engaged in dairy farming and beef cattle his entire career. He began farming in Michigan, then northern Minnesota, to Unity, WI, then Dodgeville for five years until moving to rural Fennimore in 1993. John and Mary Ellen moved into the community of Fennimore in 2015. John was an avid outdoorsman; he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and developed a love for birds, which got him involved with the bird breeding census. John also liked traveling, going camping, especially with his grandchildren, metal working and was very inventive. He encouraged music to his family and loved listening to Blue Grass music and square dancing. John was an active member of the Bethany Alliance Church of Fennimore and an Associate member of the Free Methodist Church of Livingston.
John is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years Mary Ellen of Fennimore, four children; Charles (Rita) Brown of Dodgeville, WI, James (Carolyn) Brown of Eureka, MO, Tamera (Jonathan) Eirten of Minneapolis, MN, and Benjamin Brown of Minneapolis, MN, eight grandchildren; Laura (Jordan Krebs), Simeon, Jonathan (Michalla), Elisabeth (Logan Waggonner), Ruth, Benjamin, Jacob, and Lillian, and two great grandchildren; Evelyn and Natalie. John is also survived by his two sisters; Lois Hansen of Chelsea, MI, and Catherine (David) Harrison of Chattanooga, TN, and three brothers; Richard (Penny) Brown of Waterford, MI, Roy (Joan) Brown of Three Oaks, MI, and Robert (Teri) Brown of Three Oaks, MI.
John was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Austin, and his brother-in-law Robert Hansen.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday March 8, 2019 at the Bethany Alliance Church in Fennimore with burial to follow in the Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at the church on Friday morning. The family would like to thank all the people who helped with John’s care. Memorials given to the family will be divided among several charities John and Mary Ellen supported.The Larson Family Funeral Home of Fennimore is assisting the family.