Donald "Don" Martin Brown Jr.

Born May 15, 1940 in Peoria to Donald and Muriel (Lockwood) Brown, he married Johanna Gardner in 1960. They divorced. He later married Nancee Britton in 1980. She died in 2015. He was also preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Paula Irene Driffill.

Surviving are one daughter, Eva (Don) Friday; one son, Russell (Amanda) Brown; his grandchildren, Alex (Henny) Brown, Ally (Payton) Little, Ben (Kirstyn) Friday, Sam Driffill, Emily Driffill and Evan Brown and five great-grandchildren.

Don was a veteran of the United States Army.

He graduated from East Peoria Community High School and Illinois State University.

Don retired from the United States Postal Service in Peoria in 1989. He later worked at East Peoria Community High School in Special Education.

He was active with Global Volunteers, where he traveled around the world volunteering and teaching.

Don enjoyed traveling and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, which were his passion. He was always planning his next big trip. After his big trips came to an end, he enjoyed family dinners and winning at Uno.

A gathering celebrating Don’s life will be 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Davis Bros. Pizza in East Peoria. Cremation has been accorded by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur.

Memorial contributions may be given to Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, Illinois 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com