Donald M. Brown

Former owner and founder of D.M. Brown., Co., Inc., Donald M Brown, died on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 in Sarasota, Florida.  He was 90 years old.  Brown was born in Sycamore, Illinois, the son of Harold and Zoe Brown.  He came to Dowagiac, Michigan in 1929, where he resided and graduated from Dowagiac Central High School in 1941.  He attended Western Michigan University before entering the Army, where he served as an infantryman during World War II.  He received a purple heart.  Brown came to Kalamazoo as an advertising salesman in 1947 and later, in 1956 formed D.M. Brown Co., which he operated until moving to Florida in 1981.  He was a life member of Kalamazoo Lodge #22, Fraternal Order of Masons of Kalamazoo, the Scottish Rite Valley of Grand Rapids, the Shrine Temple of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Shrine Club.  Don was a former member of First Methodist Church in Kalamazoo and later in Boca Grande, Florida. He served as a church trustee in Boca Grande for many years.  Don is survived by his four children: Kathleen (Don) Marshall, Donald (Buddy) Brown, David (Penny) Brown, and Dann (Lisa) Brown and the children’s mother Lorraine Brown.  Surviving are ten grandchildren: Donna (Marshall) Moyer, Jennifer (Marshall) Niesen, David Marshall, Donald Brown, Kimberly (Brown) Cavanaugh, Jamie Brown, Carey Brown, Stephanie Brown, Lauren Brown and Garrett Brown.  He is also survived by fifteen great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Brown Labadie and by Mary Ellen Brown.  A simple graveside ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 3:00 PM, at Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac, Michigan.  Please take the opportunity to sign his guestbook and leave a condolence or memory of Don at www.clarkch.com.