Kevin Brown

ST. JOSEPH – Kevin Lester Brown was born on May 18, 1959, to Wayne Brown and Susanne Middleton Brown in Madison, Wis.

He deeply loved his three siblings, Becky (Teresa Souders) Brown of New Glarus, Wis., Christopher (Gretchen) Brown of Stoughton, Wis., and Kathy (Rick) Monson of Monroe, Wis.

He also cherished his nieces (Emily and Samantha Monson) and nephews (A.J. and Chander Brown).

In 2000, Kevin married Amy Fischer in Madison. They moved to St. Joseph, Ill., in 2005. They had a large four-legged family and provided a loving foster home to countless shelter animals over the years.

Kevin was famous for his handcrafted cat trees, which he happily made for friends and family, and also donated to various animal-related charities.

Kevin was a highly skilled heavy-equipment operator and enjoyed a long career in construction, both as an operator and in management. In Illinois, he was employed with Stark Excavating (Champaign).

Upon retirement in 2014, he began to explore and develop other talents, such as welding, woodworking, gardening and arboriculture.

He also provided extensive and invaluable behind-the-scenes support for his wife's professional activities in Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois.

Kevin joined his heavenly Father on April 8, 2017. He was truly a selfless, kind and generous man. He will be deeply missed.

A celebration of Kevin's life will be held on Saturday, April 22, at the Homer Lake Forest Preserve (Salt Fork Center). It will be an open house from 4 to 8 p.m., with a brief service at 5 p.m.

An additional celebration will be held in Madison on Sunday, April 30, at Warner Park, with an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a service at 11:30 a.m.

Parties wishing to make memorial donations are offered suggestions of the Danville Rescue Mission or their local animal shelter.

Arrangements were handled by Kirby Funeral Home, Homer.