Obituary of Kenneth Brown

In Celebration of Kenneth G. Brown June 24, 1948 - October 22, 2015 Services Friday - October 30, 2015 St. Jude / Visitation - 11:00 AM Funeral Mass - 12:00 PM St. Felicitas Church 1526 E. 84th St. Chicago, Illinois 60619 Father Gregory Rom Obituary Kenneth G. Brown Kenneth Godfrey Brown was born on June 24th 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the first child born to the union of Fannie Mae Blakney and William Brown the second being his beloved sister Regina. Kenny was raised on the South Side of Chicago and attended Wendell Phillips High School where he graduated in three years and was later inducted into their "Hall of Fame". He went on to receive his Bachelor's and Master's of Science Degree in Criminal Justice at Chicago State University. After graduating from high school Kenny participated in the1st Police Cadet Program offered by the Chicago Police Department. During that time he was drafted into the Army where after a short stay he received an Honorable Discharge and returned to the Chicago Police Department Cadet Program. On 11 August 1969, Kenny became a Chicago Police Officer and was assigned to the 22nd District. A year later he worked as plain clothes officer on the 018th District Tactical Team. During that time he met and married his beautiful, loving and devoted wife Sharon and they were blessed with their loving daughter Dawn. Kenny from then began a progressive climb and held numerous ranks in the Chicago Police Department. Serving as a Youth Officer, in 1982 he was assigned to Area 3 Youth Division and was later promoted to Sergeant in 1984. Kenny was then assigned to Human Resources - Personnel Division where he received a promotion to Lieutenant in 1990. Lieutenant Brown in 1990 was selected to attend the Northwestern University Traffic Institute. He was later assigned to the 005th District as a Lieutenant. In 1992 he became the Commanding Officer of Area 1 Youth Division. In May of 2000, Kenny returned to Human Resources as the Lieutenant of Personnel Investigations and later retired in 2003. Kenny and his wife Sharon, upon retirement decided to leave Chicago for a warmer climate in Florida becoming "Snow Birds" during the winter months. This move allowed Kenny to pursue his favorite hobby, golf. Although Kenny had serious work ethics, he had a zest for life and loved to have a good time! He was a mentor to many. He was a movie enthusiast, enjoying movies such as; "Amos & Andy", "Dragnet", "It's A Wonderful Life", "Superman", "The Godfather", "On Golden Pond", "Pretty Woman" and "Save the Last Dance". We all know how much Kenny loved his "Motown" music and serenading his wife Sharon with his favorite love songs. Kenny enjoyed his daughter and granddaughter. One of his proudest moments was when his daughter Dawn became a Chicago Police Officer following in his footsteps. His second proudest moment was witnessing the birth of his granddaughter Kaitlyn. Kenny enjoyed living life to the fullest and on October 22nd 2015 he peacefully left to be with the Lord. In his transition, Kenny has been reunited with his mother Fannie Mae Blakney and other loving family members who preceded him in death. Kenny's spirit is left in the hearts of his wife Sharon, their daughter Dawn, granddaughter Kaitlyn and his sister Regina (Dolly) and a host of other relatives and special friends who will miss him dearly. A Letter to My Father, Daddy I'm writing this letter to say "Thank You" for everything you did for me. You didn't have to but you did! My wish is that I made you proud and continue to do so as I go through this life without you. I will miss your long speeches about life and its challenges, and your late night calls telling me, "Dawn it's okay you're doing a great job", whenever I doubted myself. I miss you Daddy and I wish we could have had more time together. I wish Kaitlyn could continue to experience the wealth of knowledge you possessed. I will carry in my heart and mind the memories of our family trips across the world; your singing the "Seventh Inning Stretch", the "Mickey Mouse Club" song and shouting every year to the top of your lungs on New Year's Eve at the stroke of midnight "Happy New Year"! Most importantly, I will not let anyone sit in "Your Chair".  I Love You Daddy! "Dawn Carrie Brown" Most people will remember Papa as a strong Chicago Police Officer, who accomplished many things in his career, who retired and moved to Florida with Nana (Sharon) the love of his life, and who enjoyed playing golf with his friends. All of that is true, but my memories are a little different. To me, Papa was the man whose wrinkled hands always found a way to tickle my feet on a drive to Michigan, who let me stay up late to watch his favorite movies with him and danced with me like they use to when he was young, wearing the same robe and slippers as he did every night. Papa was the reason that at the age of (6) six years old I knew all the words to my favorite song "My Girl" by the Temptations. He taught me how to box like Muhammad Ali and how to order the perfect hot dog at a White Sox game. I would study really hard every year so that when it was time to go to Florida Papa would buy me any candy that I wanted. These memories will keep him with us forever. What I will miss the most is Papa's laugh. I Love you very much Kenneth Godfrey Brown and you will be missed a lot. "Kaitlyn Maya Bowe" Kenny you fought a Good Fight of FAITH. Love Always and Forever Jean ("Dolly") Pallbearers Donald Woods Greg Taylor Ronald Blas Kenny Pisano Kevin McKnight Walter Blakney Honorary Pallbearers Charles Smith Elmore Shannon Alfonzo Scott Paul Chester Bradford Woods Stanley Golucki Kenny, I asked you if you were ready to go and you shook your head no but then you smiled because you knew God was ready. Remember what I said after God welcomes you to heaven; please thank him for giving you to me. God blessed me when he brought you into my life. I could not have asked for a better husband, father and grandfather for me, Dawn and Kaitlyn. Everyone loves you Kenny Brown, you will be truly missed. Until we meet again. Loving you always, "Sharon Elaine" Acknowledgements We are grateful beyond measure for the visits, phone calls, cards and other generous outpourings of loving sympathetic concerns and kindness. We would like especially to thank Dr. Ferrer, his staff and the Kindred Hospital staff in Hollywood for their loving care, and the many friends who were able to support Kenny during his illness. A special thanks to Joe and Ronald Blas who flew to Florida to spend time with Kenny during his illness. Thanks to Elmore (Nick) & Elaine Shannon who spent countless hours every week at the hospital throughout the past eleven months with us. Please continue to pray for us. We pray God's richest blessings upon you and yours.