Lyle Bruce Brown

Lyle “Bruce” Brown, 63, of Herrick, IL, passed away at 8:02 a.m. Saturday, September 13, 2025, in Eastview Terrace, Sullivan, IL.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at Cowden Free Methodist Church, Cowden, IL, with Bishop Thomas Suey officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 – noon Thursday in the church. Burial will be in Oconee Mound Cemetery, Oconee, IL. Memorials may be given to the family.

Bruce was born on September 13, 1962, in Hillsboro, IL, the son of Wilton Wesley and Betty Jane Brown. Bruce grew up in Herrick and attended Cowden-Herrick High School in the Class of 1980. Bruce married Connie Jo Gordon on October 2, 1982, and they were blessed with three children, Nicholas, Shane, and Maria. Bruce worked at International Paper in Shelbyville for 16 years, Himes Construction in Shelbyville, World Color Press in Effingham, R.R. Donnelley in Mattoon, and retired from Great Western Products in Assumption. In his spare time, Bruce could be found cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, watching Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud, or playing his guitar. Bruce attended Christ Tabernacle in Herrick, IL, and Oak Valley UPC in Oconee, IL.

Bruce is survived by his sons, Nicholas “Nick” Brown and wife Elizabeth of Cowden, IL and Shane Brown and wife Tiffany of Tovey, IL; daughter, Maria Brown of Charleston, IL; brothers, Greg Brown and wife Mary of Watson, IL and David Brown and wife Valerie of Ramsey, IL; sisters, Angela Brown of Vandalia, IL and Marla Ballinger of Casa Grande, AZ; eight grandchildren, Kallie Jo Brown, Adam Everett Brown, Wyatt Charles Lee Brown, Sophia Carmela Miller, Noah William Miller, Landon Joseph Miller, Raelyn Jane Brown and Avery Wadkins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.