Date of Death: May 29, 2023
Service Details
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 15, 2023 beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Jamey Smith officiating. He will be laid to rest in Moorepark Cemetery.
Obituary Notice
Robert Lee Brown, 90, of Wyoming, Mich. and formerly of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, May 29, 2023.
He was born August 30, 1932 in Decatur, Ind., the son of Waldo and Marguerite (Fisk) Brown, and graduated from Bristol High School with the Class of 1950.
Bob served his country during the Korean War in the United States Air Force from 1950-53 stationed at the FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming where he served as a mechanic. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Bob worked on a ranch outside of Cheyenne before moving back to Indiana to rent a farm.
On July 11, 1970, he married Alice Fisher. Together they could be found at Main Street Café enjoying breakfast with their friends. They enjoyed traveling in their motorhome with friends, Art and Nelva Dykstra, with their favorite location being Branson, Missouri.
Bob was a dedicated truck driver for YRC Freight until his retirement in May 1998. He was also the owner of Bob’s Auto Machine Shop for several years in the mid-1980’s after decades of hauling steel between Gary and Detroit. As a steel hauler, Bob was a proud member of Teamsters Local 710.
As a member of the St. Joe Valley Snowmobile Association, Bob and Alice put many miles on their snowmobiles. A favorite destination was the upper peninsula specifically Paradise, MI.
Remaining to cherish his memory are his wife, Alice; daughter, Roberta Parker; children, Sue (Rick) Smales, Brenda (Duane) Hedrick, Connie (Roger) Wagner, Daniel (Pam) Brown; nephew, Tim (Robin) Pool; siblings, Donna Finn, James (Butch) Brown, Phyllis Wilcox, Joyce Brown, and Max (Samantha) Brown; sixteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and special friends, Sam and Jane Huff.
He was preceded in death by grandson, SPC Roger Wagner Jr. and son-in-law, Steve Parker.
Additional Information
Donations in Bob’s memory may be directed to Homes For Our Troops. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. A special thank you to the staff of Grand Brook Memory Care and Careline Hospice.
Please Leave Your Condolences
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Our sincere Christian sympathy goes out to Roberta Brown Parker and the entire family for the loss of Robert. It is tough to lose a father, grandfather and friend. We will be praying for comfort and peace as the family grieves. May the Lord be with you.
Every time he saw me, anywhere in town, he would always say hi and give me a hug. He would remind me of how much Roberta and I kept him on his toes. He would let us eat pizza in her room. He will be missed. Lots of hugs and prayers for you and your family!!
Wishing peace and strength to Roberta, Alice, and all those who loved Bob–but I’m also finding some joy in this time of sorrow, just remembering who Bob was to me as a little kid. I remember Daddy Bob and Mama Al taking care of me during my youngest years, and the fun I had with them and the family when they lived in Indiana and later Three Rivers. Seeing the names of others mentioned here in the obituary whom I remember fondly from those times–Sue, Tim, Butch…what memories. I will remember Bob as that man I knew from my childhood: a gregarious guy with his buzz cut hair and bright eyes who let me have all the fun a boy could have while riding dirt bikes at his place, exploring his big barn where he kept his truck, spending time with his horse Nellie, and all sorts of mischief. I’m grateful for the care he showed me during that time. See you on the other side, Daddy Bob.
As a customer of mine while in the tire business, I always appreciated Bob’s stories that he would tell. Bob was a good man and very respectful of others. RIP.
Thank you, Tim. My dad sure liked to talk. I appreciate you sharing this memory.
~Roberta, Bob’s daughter