Obituary: James Charles Brown

James Charles Brown Jan 1, 1957 – Sept 22, 2019

James Charles Brown, beloved brother, uncle, and friend, departed this earth on September 22, 2019, in the loving presence of his family at his home in Napoleon, Michigan. It was a four-turtle day! “Jim,” as he was known by family and friends, was born on January 1, 1957 in Bay City, Michigan, the youngest of three children born to Margaret Ann (Peggy) Brown and Maxwell William Brown Jr.

Jim was a true Spartan, earning BA degrees from Michigan State University in Business and Psychology, and a MA in Business Administration. Following college Jim traveled extensively in the United States and Europe. Shortly thereafter, Jim became the owner and operator of the Aardvark Pet Store in East Lansing. Jim’s expertise in pets brought enjoyment to many whether their pet had fins, fur, tails, or scales. Toward the end of his career Jim traveled the Midwest as a Regional Sales Manager for Canidae Pet Food. On any given game day Jim could be seen, no matter the weather, sitting in the stands supporting his nieces and their teammates on the Stockbridge Women’s Soccer team.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy (Gloeckner) Brown and Maxwell Brown Jr. Jim is survived by: siblings Linda (John) Bateson of Colfax, North Carolina, Bruce (Laura) Brown of Gregory, Michigan, and Lori (Keith) Kaelber of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews: Daniel (Francesca) Bateson of Ladera Ranch, California, Jeffery (Kristy) Bateson of Colfax, North Carolina, Alexandra Brown of Canton, Michigan, and Paige Brown of MSU; grand-nieces: Halena and Neala Bateson of Colfax, North Carolina, and Riley and Harper Bateson of Ladera Ranch, California.

Jim will be interred at Roseland Memorial Gardens, Jackson, Michigan in a private family ceremony. Memorials may be sent to the Max and Peggy Brown Educational Scholarship Fund c/o the Bay City Community Foundation, 1000 Adams Street, Suite 200, Bay City, Michigan 48708, the Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation, 100 Price Avenue, Stockbridge, Michigan 49285, or the Stockbridge Women’s Soccer Program, c/o Stockbridge High School, 416 N. Clinton, Stockbridge, Michigan 49285. Go Green! Go White!