Gerald Glen (Jerry) Brown 88, of Olmsted, Illinois, went to his heavenly home on March 23, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Ines Brown, and his wife, Iris Elaine Brown. Jerry and Elaine were high school sweethearts, marrying on September 2, 1956. They had three daughters: Cherry (John) Lindamood of Tiptonville, Tennessee; Andrea (Don) Witthoft of Anna, Illinois; and Regina (Craig) Vaughn of Farmington, Missouri. They had four grandchildren: Maleita (Kaylie) Lindamood of Pahrump, Nevada; John Michael (Evee) Lindamood of Gonzales, Louisiana; Nathan (Tabitha) Brown of Bonne Terre, Missouri; and Jessica (Drew) Kelley of Anna, Illinois. Their legacy includes six great-grandchildren: Elijah and Elaina Lindamood, Bowen, Delaney and Emerson Kelley, and Theodore Brown, and beloved nieces and nephews who were cherished as though they were his own.
During his time at Ullin High School, Jerry was a pitcher on the fast-pitch softball team, a member of the basketball team, a member of the drama club and the FFA. He and Elaine were organizers for many years of the Ullin High School Reunion, an event that Jerry enjoyed planning and attending. Jerry would help out with church Christmas plays and Vacation Bible School skits for many years, and would sometimes play Santa for the Cache Chapel Christmas event. He loved receiving and sending Christmas cards. He was a long time member of Cache Chapel Church, and later attended Maple Grove Baptist Church.
Jerry was a lover of many kinds of animals, and would often rescue lost ones bringing them to live on the farm outside of Ullin. The kids at church knew to ask him whenever they were doing a fundraiser. He bought many pizzas and lots of cookie dough, even though he wasn’t a genuine fan of pizza. He was known for his kindness and generous spirit, giving help to anyone in need. He was grateful to have been included in dinners for the Century High School FFA in recognition of his long farming life. Jerry loved pulling hayride wagons with his vintage John Deere tractors, often participating in the Cache River Days Parade as a float from his church. He enjoyed being part of the tractor pulls at the Pulaski County Fair for many years.
Services honoring the life of Mr. Jerry Brown will be at Wilson’s Funeral Home in Karnak, Illinois on Saturday, March 28, 2026 with the visitation from 12:30 till 2:00 P.M., followed by a service at 2:00 P M. Rev. Scott Kelley will be officiating. Interment will follow the service at the Cache Chapel Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Cache Chapel Cemetery, or the Century High School FFA. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be, John Lindamood, Don Witthoft, Craig Vaughn, John Michael Lindamood , Drew Kelley and Nathan Brown.