John Francis Brown

My Johnny B lost his hard-fought battle with that ugly MDS the morning of November 8th at home where he wanted to be. John was a birthday present to his mother being born on her birthday, March 11 in 1945. John and his mother Mary must have had something very special because she passed on Monday morning close to 24 hours of John's passing. He graduated from Aquin in 1963, and from Highland College in 1977. John served in the army 1965 to 1968 in El Paso Texas and had a few "not so John Brown" stories to tell about his visits across the border to Tijuana Mexico. John married Angela Smith on Valentine's Day in 1970. They welcomed their son, Jason Lee Brown in January 1985, and Angie passed in a tragic car accident days later on January 18, 1985. John and Jason married Teresa Ditsworth along with her children BJ & Stacy Hongsermeier on November 12, 1988 (yes, I verified the date with Stacy). Through a lot of laughs and a lot of tears we became "us." John's love for Angie was respected and spoken of often and never taboo in our house. John's working career includes Burgess Battery and Thermos until they closed. He then took whatever jobs came his way supporting his family until starting with Legget and Platt and retiring from SPG (name change) in July 2016. Many of those work friendships have continued over the years. While John was a quiet man (even when I wasn't talking) his love ran deep for his family and friends even if it wasn't spoken. John also enjoyed music, reading and his Mustang. The last few months were pretty rough on him and he looked forward to his lunches with Denny Myers, his Peppy & Hayden visits and calls with family & friends. John is in that better place (no pain and depression free) that we dream about with his mother Mary Lamm, father George, brother Sam, his first love Angie along with some of her family members and my father Jack Ditsworth, who is probably in charge of entertainment. I can see Mary smiling and shaking her head already. The list of loved-ones in John's life is long...... Son Jason, favorite daughter Stacy (Joe) Meyers and the little lights in John's eyes Penelope & Hayden, BJ (Melissa) and kids Jaclyn, Josie sisters Cathy Ayala, Marjie (Mike) Otte, Pat (Gary) Stephens; and along with many nieces & nephews; Mother-in-law Dixie Ditsworth, and brother-in-law Wally (Becky) Ditsworth. In keeping with John's wishes of cremation and a party, I am planning on a "party" in the spring. I found this on John's desk and thought it was so him...... If I were to give anyone advice I think I'd just say that life is a contact sport and the only person on the opposing team is yourself. Conquer yourself and you can conquer the world. Side note, something that John was good at teaching has become my tag line if you will.................. "Speak your Love!"