James Brown

JAMES BRIGGS BROWN PALM DESERT, CA - James Briggs Brown, 88, formerly of Sterling, died Saturday, October 23, 2010, at Country Villa Rancho Mirage Healthcare Center in California. James was born on October 10, 1922 in Sterling, the son of Lloyd Herman and Marguerite (Briggs) Brown. He graduated from Sterling Township High School in 1940, received a B.A. degree from Carleton College in 1943 and a J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1949. He served in the Navy as the skipper of various amphibious landing craft in the Pacific theater in both World War II and the Korean conflict. Following WWII, he remained in the Active Naval Reserve, including several years on submarines, until he retired-with-pay in 1982 with the rank of Lt. Comdr. On June 13, 1946, he married Lois Dorothy Brenner, born in Chicago. Jim practiced corporate law in Chicago with Pabst Brewing Co., Miehle-Goss-Dexter, Inc and UARCO Business Forms and in the late 1970's served as President, and then Chairman of the Board, of the Employer's Association of Greater Chicago. Lois also graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. degree in Sociology in 1943, and after many years serving on boards of various civic and charitable organizations, spent 15 years as co-owner of a successful travel agency in Wilmette, IL. Jim retired in 1985 as Vice President, Secretary and Counsel of UARCO, Incorporated of Barrington. After residing for 44 years in Northfield, Evanston and Winnetka, they moved in 1990 to Palm Desert, CA where they were members of Ironwood Country Club and very active with golf and tennis, plus traveling to see every corner of the world. Jim's collection of slides and Lois' travel diaries along with a select and impressive collection of folk art are memories that surround them in their beautiful home in Ironwood. At the 50th reunion of the Class of 1944 of Carleton College in June 1994, Jim, as co-chairman of the Gift Committee, presented the College with a class gift of $4.4 million to establish an endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts and an endowed Scholarship Fund. At the same time, Jim received an Exceptional Service Award from the Alumni Association "in recognition of his long and dedicated service to the Class of 1944 and Carleton." Jim was elected into the Sterling High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September, 2006. Jim is survived by his wife, Lois, of Palm Desert, CA; his son, Bradford J. Brown, daughter-in-law Katlyn Stranger Brown, a grandson, Justin Henderson Brown, and a granddaughter, Emily Rose Stranger Brown, all of San Rafael, CA; and one brother, Keith L. Brown, of Colorado. He was preceded in death by his son, Todd Wells Brown, and his sister, Jean Brown Stabler. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday, November 5, 2010, at Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, with Reverend David Yonker of First Christian Church of Sterling, officiating. Funeral arrangements were made by Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling.