Jack Brown

Dr. Jack Taggart Brown, 94, of Decatur, died peacefully Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in Decatur Memorial Hospital with his family by his side. Dr. Brown retired from dentistry after 55 years of practice in Lincoln, Mason City and Decatur, Illinois.Dr. Jack T. Brown was born March 3, 1923 in Lincoln, IL, son of Richard Belmore Brown and Alma Pearl Taggart. He married Louise Ann (LouAnn) Purdon November 14, 1942. She passed away January 29, 1983. He married Nancy Street Spain November 6, 1987.He attended Lincoln Junior College, Illinois Wesleyan University and graduated from The Citadel and Northwestern University Dental School.Jack served in Europe in the U.S. Army during WWII and received a Bronze star. Jack was a proud member of the 100th Infantry Division Association serving on the Board of Directors and was the Mid-West Chapter Secretary. He wrote a book about his experiences during WWII and then expanded it to include his entire lifetime of abiding by the Optimist Creed.Jack was an elder at First Presbyterian Church and was a member of Stephen Decatur Masonic Lodge #979 AF & AM. Jack was a Life member of the American Dental Association, G. V. Black Society NUDS, Breakfast Optimist Club, and Warrensburg Sportsman’s Club. He enjoyed researching genealogy, the Civil War Round Table and the Gem & Mineral Club. Believing in promoting preventative dentistry, he received recognition and awards from Decatur Dental Assistants Association, DPS 61 Edna Mae Riggs School Health Life Time Service, Macon Country Dental Clinic and the National Head Start Health Services Institute.Jack was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Thelma Eileen Valentine and Trula Clare Burns, brother Richard B. Brown, Jr., wife, LouAnn Brown, one infant daughter.Surviving are: his wife, Nancy R. Brown of Decatur; daughter, Cathy (Charles) Force of Decatur, grandchildren: Julie (Nikhil) Mirakhur of New York City, Andrew (Morgan Lyn) Force of Nashville, Tenn.; stepdaughters: Theresa Spain & Paul of Decatur, Susan (Butch) Kretsinger of Decatur, Patty (Eric) Smith of Blue Mound; stepgrandchildren: Jim (Debbi) England of Decatur, Tarah (Nick) Brown of Arcola, Cody Kretsinger of Bloomington, Clayton, John, Abby and Amy Smith of Blue Mound, stepgreat-grandchildren: , Braden and Jamison England of Decatur; Taylor, Jaxen, Logan and Brody Brown of Arcola, mother-in-law, Gladys Martin of Decatur and special nieces and nephews. "
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