James `Jim` Brown

James “Jim”, also known as Jimbo, Clarence, Dad, Papa, and Great-Papa — was one of a kind.

For 58 years, he and our mother married, divorced, and remarried — because why not stay together? We were the family that was loud. We fought hard, we loved hard, and no matter how bad we fought, we always showed up for each other and loved each other. And this is why they stayed together for 58 years — a lifetime — because we were family no matter what.

Jim proudly served in the United States Army until a badly broken leg brought him home. That injury never slowed him down for long. He went on to work at Johnson Motors, where he worked hard for years to provide for his family. No matter what life threw at him, he showed up for the people he loved.

He was the proud father of Cory, Cherea, and Ryan, and if you knew the family, you probably heard somebody say, “Okay, Jim Jr.” whenever one of us did something questionable or absent-minded. Because while Dad could absolutely be a “space cadet” in the best possible way, he was also one of the smartest people in the room. He could debate politics, talk religion, outfish nearly anybody, and somehow still lose his glasses, wallet, keys, or car tags on a regular basis. One time, we found his glasses in the refrigerator.

After retirement, Jim enjoyed the simple things that made him happiest: feeding his hummingbirds every year, reading sci-fi books, watching the Bears every Sunday while pretending he was “still listening” to the rest of us, and cheering on the Cubs every spring. He loved Italian beef sandwiches loaded with giardiniera peppers no matter how badly they tore up his stomach afterward. Thankfully, chocolate shakes and cheese fries usually fixed everything.

Some of his happiest moments were spent with his wife at the slot machines, grabbing soup or something to snack on, laughing together, and spending time with his grandchildren — each one holding a special place in his heart.

His first grandchild, Courtney, came into this world fighting from the very beginning. During one of her sickest moments as a baby, Jim prayed over her and laid his hands on her, asking God to give her some of the strength and health he had always been blessed with. Our family believes those prayers mattered, and we will forever be grateful for the many blessings that followed.

His only grandson, CJ — Cory James — proudly carries his grandfather’s name. Jim absolutely lit up whenever CJ called or stopped by. The two of them could spend hours talking sports, politics, cars, movies, and just about anything else. They were two peas in a pod.

Then came Corbin, our baby Bella, the surprise addition years later who immediately stole Grandpa’s heart. He always said she was the smartest one in the family and encouraged her to continue her education, which she proudly did. They also happened to share another trait: between the two of them, nobody could keep track of wallets, glasses, or cards for very long.

Jim also loved his “bonus grandkids,” Layne and Willow, without hesitation. As he once asked with complete sincerity, “Well Cherea, where did Willow get those big green eyes?” — only to be reminded, “Dad… she’s not actually ours.” But if you know us, you know family was always bigger than blood.

One of our favorite memories was Dad sitting in the grass with Layne and Willow, completely fascinated alongside them after finding a tree frog and putting it in a jar for them to admire. Moments like that were pure Jim.

He never thought he’d live long enough to see great-grandchildren, but he did — twice over — with Elliot and Violet. That made him prouder than words can say.

Jim spent his life taking care of everybody around him. In the end, his only wish was simple: to stay home, surrounded by family, with no hospital, no nursing home, and never to be alone. We honored those wishes. He passed peacefully at home, surrounded by love, held and talked to until the very end, as he went home to be with his mother, his sisters, and his sons Cory and Ryan.

He leaves behind a family who will forever miss hearing him say our names, hearing his laugh, helping him search for something he misplaced, and getting those 8 a.m. phone calls from Mom and Dad just to check in and say, “How are ya?”

If you knew Jim, honor him in the best ways possible:
Put a few quarters in a slot machine.
Eat some cheese fries and drink a chocolate shake.
Go fishing.
Eat some smelt.
Tell the people you love that you love them — often.

Every single day.

Forever loved.
Forever missed.
Forever our husband, dad, Papa, great-grandpa, James, Jim, Jimbo, and Clarence.Top of FormBottom of Form