William "Bill" Sumner Brown

William “Bill” Brown, 66 of New Boston, died Sunday, November 27, 2022, at his home. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 1^st from 4 to 7 PM at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo. Memorials may be made to the Brown family for a memorial to be established later. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at a later date.

William Sumner Brown was born on August 30, 1956, in Muscatine, Iowa to Robert & Julia Maxine (Collette) Brown, Sr.  He graduated from Westmer High School in 1974 and served in the United States Army, 101^st Airborne from 1974 to 1980. Bill and Sheila Shoemaker were married on July 10, 1984, in Aledo, Illinois.

Bill retired from the US Army Core of Engineers, Lock & Dam #17. He had previously worked in the Grain Industry with Continental Grain in New Boston and Martin Grain in Aledo and Edgington. Bill was a jack of all trades and could fix anything. He enjoyed time outdoors, especially along the river and shooting guns. He adored his family, or his “Tribe” as he called them and his canine companion, Oliver.

Those left to cherish Bill’s memory include his wife, Sheila; children: Aleshia & Jason Kenney of Aledo; Casey & Jonathan Agan of East Moline; Starla & Jeff Stephens and Angie & Will Millar all of Aledo; 12 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; siblings: Karla & Bob Long of Metter, GA; Dina & Dan Cooley of New Boston, IL; Danny Brown of Auburn, GA; Robert Brown, Jr; Terri & Dave Showalter of New Boston; Mary Noah of Muscatine, IA; Edward Brown of Dandridge and Bobbie Gasaway of Muscatine, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Dee Smith.