Cecil W. Brown, 89, of Raritan, Illinois, passed away at 3:52 a.m. Tuesday May 1, 2018 at Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab in Stronghurst. He was born March 18, 1929 in Warren County, Illinois, the son of Paul and Loma Spence Brown. On April 4, 1951, he married Patricia Bricker in Raritan.

Mr. Brown was an army veteran of the Korean Conflict and served from 1951-1953 with the 35 ^th Regimental Combat Team, part of the 25 ^th Division HQ Command. Following his service, he farmed, was factory supervisor for the former Alton Box company in Galesburg, IL, and then was manager of the Farm Center in Sciota, Illinois, retiring in 1991. After retirement, he helped many local farmers with their fall harvest.

Cecil served on the Raritan Town Board for many years, was a member of the Raritan Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member, Sunday School teacher, and served on various committees, of the Raritan Baptist Church. He enjoyed his family, traveling, bowling, golfing, fishing, and in his later years, sitting in the sun and reading.

Survivors include his wife, four children, Ann (Mark) Kettelkamp of Benson, MN, Philip (Peggy) Brown of Riverton, IL, Barbara Brown and Jean Brown Chaney, both of East Greenwich, RI, seven grandchildren, Kristi Kettelkamp Rice, Ryan Kettelkamp, Jason Brown, Patrick Brown, Bryon Brown, Ashley Podheiser, and Sarah Chaney, eight great grandchildren, one sister, Lola Brown Mcvey, one brother-in-law, J.D. Bricker, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by 8 siblings, Virgil Brown, Edgar Brown (killed in the Battle Of The Bulge in 1944), Leonard Earl Brown (died as an infant), Nina Brown Cook, Dale Brown, Dorothy Brown Crandall, Lyle Brown, and Martha Brown Johnson.

The funeral service for Mr. Brown will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday May 5, 2018 at the Raritan Baptist Church. Burial with military rites will follow in the Raritan Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 700 p.m. Friday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst, and Saturday from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. at the church. A memorial fund has been established and will be designated later. Please visit banksandbeals.com to sign the guest book or leave a condolence.