Michael K. Brown

Bartow, FL: Michael Kevin Brown, 75, died Monday, April 16th, 2019 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Lakeland, following a fiercely fought battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Mike was the son of Albert O. and Marie (Spotts) Brown and was born May 25th, 1943 in Sunbury, PA. He leaves his wife of 52 years; Caroline (Carpenter) Brown, his sons; Michael and Robert, his daughters; Larissa and Elizabeth, their spouses; Angela, Elizabeth, John and Ricky, his grandchildren; Jonnie, Jonah, Canyon, Ella and Georgia. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Marie, his brothers Jerry, Jack, Lee, Fritz, and Bob, and his sister Carol. After graduating from Sunbury High School in 1962, he served his country honorably as a member of the United States Air Force, where he was a medic in France and England until 1968. After getting married and returning home, Mike attended Susquehanna University where he graduated with a B.A. in accounting in 1972. His career as a business manager with the Pennsylvania State Department of Corrections took him to Camp Hill, Muncy, and Coal Township facilities. In 2004 he retired and moved to Florida. There, he was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Bartow and was serving as financial secretary for the Knights of Columbus at the time of his death. Holding a high level amateur radio license, Mike had a long time passion for amateur radio, reaching out and connecting with people around the world. He also fulfilled a childhood dream of learning ventriloquism in his retirement, building and repairing dummies. He volunteered time with nursing home residents, entertaining them with various dummy friends on his arm. Mike especially loved his family, and was never more excited than when his grandchildren were coming to visit. He was a gentle soul who raised his family with compassion, love and music. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Bartow on Thursday, April 25th at 8:30 a.m. with a celebration of his life to follow Mass in the church hall. Interment will be in Sunbury, PA