John E. Brown, Sr., 85, of Rensselaer, a former Monon resident died Friday, November 1, 2002 at Jasper County Hospital, in Rensselaer.

He was born at Monon on November 26, 1916, to Archie and Ruth (Ogburn) Brown. He married Ida Mae Widner. She died in 1990. He then married Betty Risner Hayes at Rensselaer on June 20, 1992. She survives.

He previously lived in the Monon area and had attended the Monon Schools. He had been a Rensselaer resident for 10 years.

He was a self-employed farmer for more than 40 years.

He was a member of the Faith Christian Tabernacle of Rensselaer.

He had been a White County councilman for 18 years and had served with the White County Sheriff's Department.

Other survivors include a daughter, Connie Dalka of Reynolds; a son, John (Nedra) Brown, Jr., of Olney, Ill; stepdaughter, Joan (Keith) Hamstra of DeMotte, sisters June Jones and Lorena Johnson, both of Monon; brothers, Keith (Betty) Brown of Burlingame, Calif., Richard (Betty) Brown of Cape Coral, Fla., Robert (Thelma) Brown of Waldron and Jack (Sally) Brown of Estero, Fla.; six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; six step-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A sister is deceased.

Visitation was Sunday at Jackson Funeral Chapel, Rensselaer where funeral services were held Monday with Dr. James Blanchard officiating.

Burial was in Bedford Cemetery, Monon.

Memorials may be made to the Faith Christian Tabernacle.