Larry D. Brown

Unger-Horner Funeral Home Rochelle, IL Larry D. Brown passed on July 24th, 2025, surrounded by a loving family, to be with our Heavenly Father. He departed with a sharp mind, precise memory, and a well-used and worn body. Larry was born on November 9th , 1932 to Ralph and Stella Brown of Louisville, NE. He was number "6" of 9 children. He leaves behind a loving and dedicated wife, Becky Brown, a schoolteacher. Larry must have thought he had some things to learn. After 71 years of marriage, Larry and Becky were fruitful, having 4 children: Teresa (Terry) VanHise, Robert Brown, Don (Leanne) Brown, and Rex (Deb) Brown. They had 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Larry served in the military with honor during the Korean War. Although he earned a purple heart, he survived battles at "Million Dollar Mountain" and "Heartbreak Ridge." The memories of his service were clear and etched into his mind. He shared the stories rarely but did comment 'God must have had a purpose for him, having survived.' Larry was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and attended when able. Larry worked many jobs, 14 total, with his most memorable being with Swift and Company, with his last job being with Macklin Quarries. He finally retired from any kind of paid work at age 82, with Becky also ending paid work at age 80. Larry approached work and play with the same intensity. He was tough and had a 'never quit or complain' attitude. What struck people who knew Larry was his ability to tell a story or remember a joke. Many times before he would even say 'hello', he would say "two guys walked into a bar….", followed by laughs or groans. He was social and loved to be around people, with his usual group of family and friends enjoying social time at the VFW for a steak fry or pizza and beer. Larry was sporting. He could shoot pool and bowl better than most. He was a lifelong Cubs fan, even in his final days on this earth. Larry enjoyed spending time fishing, camping, and being with family, especially when they were competing in a sporting event. All of that said, he treasured his time spent with Becky, the most. Memorial visitation will be Sat. Aug. 30th 2025 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home in Rochelle, IL. Memorial for service will immediately follow at 11:00 AM with pastor Katherine Paisley officiating. Memorials can be directed to Rochelle VFW post 3878. Visit www.ungerhorner.com for online guest book.