Obituaries
Obituary for W. Neil Brown
W. NEIL BROWN, 82, of Freeport, IL, died Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport.
A visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2022 in the Crystal Room at the Masonic Temple Event Center in Freeport, concluding with a Masonic service at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 15th, at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown, IL. A memorial has been established to the Evergreen Masonic Lodge #170 A.F. & A.M. – Freeport, IL.
Neil was born on June 26, 1940, in Moline, IL, to Wilbur H. and Lucille (Duncan) Brown. He was a graduate of Prophetstown (IL) High School and then attended Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He went on to receive his law degree at John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL. Neil first worked as the Assistant Desk Attorney for the IL States Attorney’s Office, then he worked at the Snow, Hunter & Whiton law firm. In 1977 he established his own practice, W. Neil Brown Attorney at Law, in Freeport, IL. He operated the firm until his retirement in 2013 with his loyal secretary, Gail Church, by his side.
Neil had served on the board of the former Embury United Methodist Church in Freeport. He was a member of the Freeport Evergreen Masonic Lodge, #170 A.F. & A.M., as well as the Scottish Rite Valley Freeport – Freeport Shrine. He was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, the highest degree one can attain. Neil had served as past Commander in Chief of the Freeport Consistory and for many years he served on the board of directors, and as President of the board, for the Freeport Temple, Inc. He was also a member of the Freeport ELKS Club.
Neil was passionate about skiing, and NASTAR ski racing. He was a member of the Freeport and Rockford Ski Clubs and skied well into his 70’s. He also enjoyed running and was an active member of the YMCA. He tinkered with model trains, but most of all he loved being a part of the Masonic Lodge, helping with the stage work, driving and working with the Freeport Shrine Club’s T-Ten Cars Parade unit.
Survivors include two daughters, Jacqueline “Jacqui” Brown of Billings, MT and Natalie K. Roche of Elburn, IL; five grandchildren, Allan (Paige) Hornung, Alexandar (fiancée Amber Marinkovicha) Hornung, Alyssa (Trent) Beasley, Emma and Riley Roche; two great grandchildren, Camille and Caroline Beasley; one brother, Arlo Brown of Springfield, IL; two sisters, Janet (Ronald) Reiling and Aleta (James) Key, both of Austin, TX.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents and one son-in-law, Daniel Thompson.
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A visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2022 in the Crystal Room at the Masonic Temple Event Center in Freeport, concluding with a Masonic service at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 15th, at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown, IL. A memorial has been established to the Evergreen Masonic Lodge #170 A.F. & A.M. – Freeport, IL.
Neil was born on June 26, 1940, in Moline, IL, to Wilbur H. and Lucille (Duncan) Brown. He was a graduate of Prophetstown (IL) High School and then attended Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He went on to receive his law degree at John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL. Neil first worked as the Assistant Desk Attorney for the IL States Attorney’s Office, then he worked at the Snow, Hunter & Whiton law firm. In 1977 he established his own practice, W. Neil Brown Attorney at Law, in Freeport, IL. He operated the firm until his retirement in 2013 with his loyal secretary, Gail Church, by his side.
Neil had served on the board of the former Embury United Methodist Church in Freeport. He was a member of the Freeport Evergreen Masonic Lodge, #170 A.F. & A.M., as well as the Scottish Rite Valley Freeport – Freeport Shrine. He was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, the highest degree one can attain. Neil had served as past Commander in Chief of the Freeport Consistory and for many years he served on the board of directors, and as President of the board, for the Freeport Temple, Inc. He was also a member of the Freeport ELKS Club.
Neil was passionate about skiing, and NASTAR ski racing. He was a member of the Freeport and Rockford Ski Clubs and skied well into his 70’s. He also enjoyed running and was an active member of the YMCA. He tinkered with model trains, but most of all he loved being a part of the Masonic Lodge, helping with the stage work, driving and working with the Freeport Shrine Club’s T-Ten Cars Parade unit.
Survivors include two daughters, Jacqueline “Jacqui” Brown of Billings, MT and Natalie K. Roche of Elburn, IL; five grandchildren, Allan (Paige) Hornung, Alexandar (fiancée Amber Marinkovicha) Hornung, Alyssa (Trent) Beasley, Emma and Riley Roche; two great grandchildren, Camille and Caroline Beasley; one brother, Arlo Brown of Springfield, IL; two sisters, Janet (Ronald) Reiling and Aleta (James) Key, both of Austin, TX.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents and one son-in-law, Daniel Thompson.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
13
Aug
2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
Masonic Event Center
305 W. Stephenson St.
Freeport, IL 61032
Located in the Crystal Room
Service
Saturday
13
Aug
4:00 PM
Masonic Event Center
305 W. Stephenson St.
Freeport, IL 61032
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