Willard M. “Mike” Brown, Jr.
Willard M. “Mike” Brown, Jr., age 75, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, September 2, 2022. He was born on October 10, 1946 in Fond du Lac, the son of Willard M. and Frances (Junaitis) Brown, Sr.
Mike graduated from St. Mary’s Springs in May 1965. He would meet his wife, Kathrine “Kathy” (Blitzke) Brown in the Summer of 1967. Prior to their engagement in December 1967, Mike was drafted into the U.S. Army in September 1967 and deployed to Korea in January 1968. He returned from Korea and was discharged in May 1969. That summer, Mike and Kathy were married on August 23, 1969 at St. Mary’s Church in Fond du Lac.
Mike spent 42 years working for the Fond du Lac County Highway Department, retiring in December 2010 as Chief Patrol Superintendent. Fishing was Mike’s favorite pastime activity. He spent decades fishing Lakes Winnebago and Michigan with long-time friends and family. Spending winters in Florida gave him the opportunity to experience salt-water fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with daughter Angie and her fiancé Chuck. When not fishing, he would dedicate endless summer hours gardening and detailing his boat and truck.
He and Kathy eventually became “snowbirds,” spending the first four months of the year in The Villages retirement community in Florida before returning home in May when the tundra had thawed and their backyard began growing again. They were especially fond of hiking Glacier, Yellowstone and Smoky Mountain National Parks. Closer to home, they created lasting memories spending summer weeks vacationing with family at Little Silver and Big Silver Lakes in Waushara County.
Mike is survived by his wife, Kathrine; son, Todd and daughter, Angie (fiancé Charles Desmond); and siblings, David (Gladi) Brown and Diane (Duane) Lemke; sister-in-law, Julie Guell; brother-in- law, Joel (Barb) Blitzke of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-law, Amy (Bill) Rector of Fair Oaks Rach, TX; and brother-in-law, Luke (Mary) Blitzke, of Eldorado, WI; along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Priscilla Brown and infant Patrìce Brown; father and mother-in-law, Frank and Violet Blitzke; family dog Shauna; and granddog Lilly. While his family grieves his loss, they rest in comfort knowing that he is now reunited with all those whom passed before him including Elliot Pickett, Mike’s best friend of 61 years who passed away earlier this year.
The family extends a special thank you to the Fond du Lac First Responders, EMTs, and Vicki Hoch.
Visitation will take place on Friday, September 9, 2022 from 3:00 to 5:45 PM at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division St., Fond du Lac, where Mike’s family will greet relatives and friends. A Liturgy of the Word will follow visitation at 6:00 PM. At Mike’s request, cremation has taken place.