Wendell Brown

GALESBURG - Wendell K. Brown, 98, of Galesburg, formerly of Wataga, died at 12:20 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12, 2013, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg.

Wendell was born Aug. 31, 1914, in Bushnell, the son of Walter S. and Mabelle B. (Stogsdill) Brown. He married Evelyn M. McCabe on Nov. 8, 1937, in Decorah, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Evelyn of Galesburg; one brother, Robert Brown of Mukwonago, Wis.; and one sister, Shirley Houston of El Cajon, Calif. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, including his only local niece, Shirley (William) Pelton of Knoxville; and his extended family, Ken (Janet) Russell of Wataga.

He was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.

Wendell served as a staff sergeant in Galesburg's Battery A, 123rd Artillery Division of the Army National Guard during World War II.

He worked for the U.S. government at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Mo., for 20 years, retiring in 1979, at which time they moved to Wataga.

Wendell was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Wataga and had served on the parish council.

He had also been active in Legion of 1000 men in St. Louis, Mo. Wendell had also served as the treasurer for the Wataga Sanitary District and the treasurer for the Wataga Cemetery Board.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Wataga. The Rev. Deus-Dedit Byabato will officiate. Burial will follow with military honors in the Wataga Cemetery in Wataga. There will be no visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Aloysius Catholic Church.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Watson-Thomas Funeral Home in Galesburg.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.