Kenneth "Kenny" E. Brown

Kenneth E Brown, 90, of Oakford, IL passed away Feb 27, 2025. He was born on the family farm a mile east of Oakford on June 7, 1934, the fourth of five sons to W. Irving & Ruth Boeker Brown. He married Patsy L Patterson in 1957. They had three children together: Jill (Charles) Brady; Barry (Christine) Brown; Bruce (Yukari) Brown. They later divorced and Kenny remarried Shirley Bailey Rose in 1977 adopting her sons, Daniel Rose (Cynthia) and Lawrence Rose (Melanie). He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; his parents, Ruth & Irving; and his two brothers, JC & Wayne. His brother Dale passed away on the same day Feb 27, 2025, just minutes apart. Surviving are his brother, Jim Brown (wife Nancy).Kenny has been blessed with 10 grandchildren: David Brady; Matthew (JoLisa) Brady; Bethany (Kyle) Alt, Emily (Damon) Brown; Ashlan (Jonah) Coughlin; Scott Brown, Samantha (Joseph) Zapiain; Elliott (Corina) Brown, Joshua Brown, Yumi (Jacob) Finton, and 17 great grandchildren: Teddy & Evelyn Brady; Jordyn, Adalyn, Eden, Brooklyn Alt; Raegan, Owen, Jackson Brown; Ellis & Evelyn Coughlin; Clement Brown, Oliver Chadd & Lucy Zapiain; Kenji & Diego Brown, and Ren Finton. Kenny attended Oakford Grade School and Petersburg Harris High School, graduating in 1952. He loved high school sports where he earned 16 varsity letters in all four years in football, basketball, baseball, and track, and was named to the Petersburg PORTA Hall of Fame in 2020. After graduating he attended Illinois College and then served two years in the US Army field artillery FDC operations and intelligence specialist stationed in West Germany, rising to the rank of Staff Sgt during this tour. He served eight years as Mayor of Oakford and longtime member of the American Legion and member of the Oakford United Methodist Church. He spent his working career in the field of agriculture, first farming for 10 years, then 30 years in fertilizer industry, retiring as the plant manager for Easton Fertilizer Plant. Funeral will be held March 15th, 2025, at Hurley Funeral Home, 122 W. Douglas, Petersburg, IL with a brief Visitation at 9:30 am and Service at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Oakford Cemetery with a reception at Hill Prairie Winery, 23753 Lounsberry Rd, Oakford, IL provided by the Oakford United Methodist Church and the Lounsberry Family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Kenneth’s name to Oakford United Methodist Church, 210 Center St, Oakford, IL 62673. Hurley Funeral Home in Petersburg is assisting the family with arrangements.

Kenneth "Kenny" E. Brown

June 7, 1934 - February 27, 2025

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