Philip Brown

Philip William Brown
Lansing, Michigan
Philip W. Brown was a devoted son, brother, husband, and father. He loved our Lord fiercely and longed for others to know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, as well.
Phil was born in Flint MI, graduated from St Michaels, and began his college career at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He joined the Army and served in Germany. After discharge, he attended Michigan State University, majoring in Electrical Engineering, and later got his Masters in Education so that he could teach.
He met Mary Murphy at a mixer at the local roller rink in Saginaw. They married in October, 1965, and lived in Saginaw briefly before moving to Lansing, where he taught as an Industrial Arts teacher.
Phil loved to fish, and while he hated putting up the camper, he loved providing his family with trips and adventures. He also loved to grill and have friends over, laughing over beers and sharing a good meal in a backyard he and Mom worked to make lovely.
Dad was a hard worker, bred from a time when husbands and fathers did what was necessary to provide for their family, even if they didn't love their job. Teaching was tough, but his love for his family was stronger. Around the house there wasn't anything he couldn't fix; many of his repairs and work around the house also showcased his creative genius. His garden was a place of solace and beauty, and at the end of a hard day cutting grass, pulling weeds, cultivating flowers and fixing something in "the barn," he loved to sit and admire the creation of God while drinking a good beer.
After retiring from teaching, he enjoyed doing a variety of jobs such as chauffeuring for a funeral company; combining his love of maps, people, and travel, to escort tours for Educational Tours; and driving bus for Lansing Christian School. He loved taking high schoolers to their games, but especially loved taking the little kids on school trips. It's said the little ones couldn't wait to see "Mister Brown" and give him a high five.
Faith in and love of Jesus Christ was central to Phil's life. Raised a Catholic, he came to know Jesus more personally through the Catholic charismatic renewal. This new-found love of Jesus invigorated him, and he wanted nothing more than for others to experience the healing love of Christ. He struggled with his own demons but ran after the mercy of Jesus, and his favorite devotion was to the Divine Mercy. Dad had a special love for the unborn and their mothers, always wanting to support both. He had a heart for the poor and, unbeknownst to many, supported many charities.
His friends describe him as a man who had a great sense of humor, who pursued holiness, who sought reconciliation, who quietly listened and then gave simple wisdom; humble, and one who enjoyed the company of others. He was a man of his word, utterly devoted to Jesus, family, his parish, and his friends.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Margaret Brown; their children, Margo Brown, Jennifer Brown, Paul (Christy) Brown, Patrick (Jen) Brown; grandchildren Grace, Gabriel, Andrew, Ava, Peter, Emmett, Liam, Sophia and Penelope, and his beloved sister, Wilma Karl. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Gladys; his son, Timothy; his brother-in-law, Dave Karl; and his niece, Mary Monica Mitchell.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lansing followed by a luncheon in the Parish Hall. The interment will be at 1:30, at Evergreen Cemetery, Mt Hope Ave, South Lansing.
Family will receive friends for visitation on Monday February 24th from 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm at Skinner Funeral Home - Lansing Chapel, with a 7pm Vigil Service and Rosary. There will also be a short visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary on Tuesday at 10am, one hour prior to Mass.
To share memories and condolences, please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.