Joachim Joseph (“Jock”) Brown
Joachim Joseph (“Jock”) Brown, 74, died July 18, 2023, at his home in LaGrange, Illinois, after a long illness, with his beloved wife of 53 years, Patricia (“Patsy”) (née Powell), at his side. He was the devoted father of Kathleen “Katie” Brown-Heinecken (Kim), Maura Brown (Keith Baich), Colleen Vrba (Geoffrey), and Timothy, and loving grandfather of Evelyn Ruth Vrba, Edward Aloysius Vrba, and Ulrich Joachim Heinecken. He was the son of the late Thomas II and Helen Sauer Brown, also of LaGrange, and brother to Helen Anne Neustadt (the late David), the late Thomas Brown III (Gail), Christine “Kitsy” Mahoney (Jack), Kathleen Whitman (Richard), Elizabeth “Beth” Brown, Timothy Brown, Martin Brown (Geri), and John Fitzgerald Kennedy Brown (Mary Jo). He was a treasured in-law to the Powell family, and uncle to many adoring nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.
To all who knew him, Jock was a strong and powerful presence, full of wisdom and wit. He graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in 1970 and earned his Juris Doctorate cum laude from DePaul College of Law in 1974, where he was a proud student of the evening division. While in law school, Jock was granted two American Jurisprudence Awards for academic excellence, one in Equity and the other in Estates and Trusts, as well as the Corpus Juris Secundum Award. After receiving his law degree, he earned the Illinois State Bar Association Lincoln Award for excellence in writing. While practicing law, he published two academic articles, one in Evidence in Will Contests in an issue of the Loyola Law Journal, and the other on the topic of Defective Notice of Sale of Collateral under the Uniform Commercial Code, in the Chicago Bar Record. He was a member of many boards and civic and charitable organizations in La Grange and Ottawa, Illinois.
After serving in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Jock worked in the Trust Department at the First National Bank of La Grange, where he was named President in 1985. He was elected President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of the First National Bank of Ottawa (Illinois) in 1999, where he worked until his retirement in 2015.
Jock was very proud of his service on the Economic Development Committee in La Grange as well as his work in Community Reinvestment through the First National Bank of LaGrange. Once retired, he served on the Board of Directors at FNBC Bank and Trust (formerly First National Bank of LaGrange) until his death.
In addition to his many achievements, Jock was an avid photographer, chef, traveler, birdwatcher, cinephile, classical music lover, and Helen Mirren enthusiast. It was a source of great personal pride that he made sure that his wife, Patsy, was able to see every Jan Vermeer painting available to the public during their travels.
He will be remembered and celebrated at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, Illinois, Monday, July 24, from 3pm to 9pm, and laid to rest with a funeral mass at St. Francis Xavier Church, 124 N. Spring Ave., LaGrange, Tuesday, July 25, at 11am. Mass attendees should access parking from Waiola Avenue or may park across the street at Ogden Avenue Elementary School.
Memorials can be sent to the “We Thrive” school fund or to the All School Service Program at St. Francis Xavier School (145 N. Waiola Avenue, La Grange, IL 60525).
Saint Joachim was the maternal grandfather to Jesus of Nazareth, according to the Gospel of James. The namesake is befitting of a man who treasured his role as a grandfather more than anything else in his long, accomplished life.
To livestream mass, please visit this link: www.facebook.com/SFXParish.LG/videos
For further service information, call 708-352-6500.
Dear Patsy, Katie, Maura, Colleen and Tim,
Our hearts are aching and breaking for each of you. What a tremendous loss. And a loss for everyone that ever knew him. We were crazy about Jock, and will miss his wit, his humor, his decency and his thoughtfulness. And his friendship. How lucky were we to have had Jock Brown in our lives.
All our love, Marianne & Pete Trotter
Kitsy Mahoney Brown, my prayers are with you and your family, as you greive the loss of your brother. Love you all so much.
Leigh Currie
Sending heart felt condolences to the entire Brown family. RIP Jock!
Becky Crew
Jock was always supportive of me at First National Bank of Ottawa. I will always remember him giving me this look and saying nomatter what. You always have an answer for me. May you rest in heaven Jock. Deepest sympathy and prayers to your family.
Dear Patsy,
I am so terribly sorry to hear about the loss of Jock. What a blessing it is was for him to have you at his side giving such loving care – your strength and devotion (and trip to Florida together) will add to your lifetime of memories knowing what comfort you provided. Anything whatsoever I can do just call.
Cathie Todnem
It’s been 55 years since I left Chicago, joined the Navy, and lived in California.. But I have kept contact with Jock and Patsy on my infrequent visits back “home” because Jock is so enjoyable and unforgettable and Patsy the perfect complement to that vibrant personality. I lived with Jock as my college roommate at Gonzaga Hall at Loyola in 1966. That was an experience to say the least. Jock played cards til the early morning hours and I learned to sleep through it. I remember that he made a pledge to his family not to drink alcohol.
My wife and I were delighted to be hosted by Patsy and Jock at their beautiful home in Ottawa a few years ago and we were blessed to see him in his prime, as a lawyer, a bank president, and a loving father and grandfather. His FB posts are hilarious and on point. I will miss him so much. We are coming “home” to say goodbye to my “brother” Jock. Our hearts go out to Patsy and the “kids” and grandkids.
My sincere condolences to Jock’s family and many friends. May my St Ignatius high school colleague rest in piece for a life well-lived.
Dear Patsy and Family,
What amazing memories I have of Jock as an 8th grade student during those 1960’s when students and teachers were learning so much from one another, at least in my case. One specific memory I have is of the dark late November afternoon when Jock wandered into my empty classroom on his way home from school and sat down in a front seat needing to talk. JFK had been shot that afternoon.
Please accept my sympathy at this terrible time of loss. I’m sorry I will not be able to be present at the wake and funeral which I would want to be at this Sacred time. I will be away on retreat and you and your family will be in my prayers all week.
Dear Patsy:
My condolences to you and your family.
Jock was a Champion: at Gonzaga Hall, at Loyola University and in Law School. He was very knowledgeable in many areas in addition to the Law.
A true Gentleman and a Scholar.
I am fortunate to have known him.
Dear Patsy,
On behalf of the Sauer family, we want to extend our condolences to you and your family with the passing of Jock. Our condolences also to all of our Brown cousins, spouses and families. We all have great memories of Jock and his wit and wisdom. There have been many deserved accolades extended. Please include Jock as being also a great nephew and cousin. We will miss him.
Peace!
John and Cathy Sauer, Rick and Mary Dalmau, Tom and Molly Sauer, Katie Monahan, Pete and Rosie Sauer.
I well remember Jock from my two years at Gonzaga Hall in the late Sixties. Jock was a bright and witty fellow – and the life of the party when the occasion called for it. My condolences to Patsy and the family.
Dearest Patsy and all gathered together to cherish and honor Jock,
We hold you in our hearts with the invincible preciousness and deep powerful love of family.
We light a candle in Jock’s name, here in the land of the southern cross.
Our love, prayers for solace and strength.
In communion with you,
Mary and Rick Dalmau families
Dear Patsy and family,
Please accept my deepest condolences on Jock’s passing. I learned so much while serving on the Reddick Public Library District board of trustees with him, and I felt his staunch support when I was later appointed Library Director. No one could match his wit, his truths, and his loyalty. It was always a good day when his office door was open at FNBO, and I could pop in for a chat after making the library deposit. He was just the best sounding board! I’m confident his visitation was sad yet filled with stories, laughing, and love. Slainte, Jock!
Hi Patsy and Family … once again, very sorry to hear about Jock’s passing. He was irrepressible and is irreplaceable. I first met Jock when I was 17—in Fr. Cieply’s trigonometry class at St. Ignatius. In our 1966 yearbook when we graduated, Jock and I both listed “French Club 3,4” as our main activity during high school. Apparently neither of us were joiners, since we were only in French Club because that was the language we took after two years of Latin; we never went to a meeting of the Club. Sorry for your loss, and it is a great loss to many of us.