Brian D. Brown

Despite life throwing him plenty of curveballs, Brian Brown kept swinging his way to a life worth remembering.

Brian Brown, age 46, of Dubuque Iowa (formerly of Chadwick, IL) died Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at UnityPoint Heath - Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI. Brian had some bad luck with health throughout his life. He was diagnosed with leukemia at age 5…and beat it. He suffered multiple strokes in the last few years, and kept pushing on with life and his service to God, and others. Finally his health issues caught up with him, and God decided it was time.

A funeral service will be held at Hope United Methodist Church in Chadwick, IL, on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 11am. Visitation will take place at Law Jones Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll, IL on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, from 4pm to 7pm, as well as on Wednesday, one hour prior to the service, at the Church. Family and friends are invited to share in Brian’s life at lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Brian was born December 27, 1973 in Morrison, IL, the son of Don and Carol (Unbehaun) Brown. Growing up in Chadwick, he attended Chadwick schools until high school, when Chadwick consolidated with Milledgeville. He graduated from Milledgeville High School with the class of 1992.

Ever since he could walk, Brian was tossing and swinging away at a baseball. After too many balls thrown against the side of the house resulted in a few damaged shingles, he was strongly encouraged to direct his onslaught towards the shed. As he grew older, he also took an interest in basketball; playing in high school. He continued his athletic career into college where he played for Upper Iowa University varsity baseball team.

Brian didn’t let his love for sports end with his graduation from college. Until his last breath, he was a die hard Cubs fan! Those who loved him will always remember his joy when the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. But his sports fandom extended well beyond that of just the Cubs. He was Utah Jazz fan, because apparently, he couldn’t just root for Jordan and the Bulls, like everyone else. He cheered on the Chicago Bears, despite his family being a “Packers House”, and he enjoyed golf, both playing and watching. He loved sports so much that he even decided to give back to them, serving as an Umpire for local baseball and softball teams, for a number of years.

You see, this is what made Brian who he was. He found ways to take what he loved, and use it to give to others. As we said before, Brian didn’t have the best luck when it came to health, but he was able to make the most of it, and we think we just might have figured out how…

There was no questioning Brian’s love and devotion to God. And yep, you guessed it, he took this love and found a way to give to others, with it. Years ago, he served as Treasurer for Hope United Methodist Church in Chadwick, and more recently, he was an active member of Grandview United Methodist Church in Dubuque, teaching Sunday school classes, and participating in church gatherings and events.

He loved teaching those kids! And this certainly makes sense, considering he made his living as a Childcare worker for Early Learners in Dubuque.
Brian will be dearly missed by his parents, Don and Carol Brown of Lanark, IL; brothers, William (Kristy) Brown, of Milledgeville, IL and Robert Brown, of Lanark, IL; niece, Kacie Brown, of Milledgeville, IL; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Brian is preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Joyce Brown, and Francis and Marion Unbehaun; and aunts and uncles, Dale and Judy Brown, Dennis and Ruth Unbehaun, and Jerry Unbehaun.