Fred A. Brown

Fred. A. Brown, 92, of Moline, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Illini Restorative Care, Silvis, IL.

Services will be 10:30 a.m.  Tuesday, April 16, at Van Hoe Funeral Home, East Moline. Burial with military honors will be at National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 15, at the funeral home, with a Masonic service at 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite charity or to River Bend Food Bank.

Fred was born March 30, 1932, in Beaverton, Alabama, a son of Odis and Ora (Black) Brown.

He was a self-made man starting work in Florida at the age of 15. He later worked in Waukegan, IL and then, at the Rock Island Arsenal. Fred went to Huntsville, Alabama for two years working on the Saturn Rocket. His favorite memory was meeting Wernher von Braun and having his picture taken with him although he didn’t receive a copy. He then returned to the Arsenal.

Fred and his first wife, Cathy Cathelyn, married in 1952. Together they had three children, Veronica, John, and Terry.

Fred served two years in the Army at Fort Tilden, New York. He was honorably discharged in 1954, then served six years as an Army Reservist at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.

Later in life, Fred married Sue McFate Brown and gained two stepchildren, Tim and Tracy. Together they have seven grandchildren, Joseph, Cody, Zach, Ty, Adrian, Dan and Shane.

Fred loved to travel, garden, watch NASCAR, and remodel homes. He was proud to be member of Doric Lodge 319 A.F. & A.M. for over 60 years, 32nd degree member of Scottish Rite Valley of Moline, the Kaaba Shrine for over 50 years, and East Moline American Legion, Post 227 for 47 years.

Fred retired from the Rock Island Arsenal in 1987 and took pride in honoring his country by placing flags on the graves of late family members and friends who served their country and passed away in several states.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, of Moline; children, Veronica (Sylvester) Richardson, East Moline, John Brown, Hampton, Terry (Debbie) Brown, Hampton, step-children, Tim Retzl, Colorado, and Tracy Retzl, Moline; grandchildren, Joseph Brown, Cody (Catherine) Brown, Zach Retzl, Ty Retzl, Adrian Retzl, Dan (Lisa) Erickson, and Shane (Tiffany) Erickson; great grandchildren, Theo and Everett; brother, Carl (Charlotte) Brown, Memphis, TN; sister-in-law, Earline Brown; niece, Theresa Brown;  nephews, Rex and Curtis Brown, and their families.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Odis and Ora; brothers, Billy Brown, and his wife Virginia, and John Brown; and two nieces, Jan and Carla Brown.

Online condolences may be expressed at vanhoe.com

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