- Date Of Birth: April 8, 1959
- Date Of Death: March 3, 2013
- State: Michigan
Master Sergeant Michael James Brown, 53, of Three Oaks, Michigan died as a result of a homicide in El Salvador Saturday, February 16, 2013. Brownie was born April 8, 1959 in Michigan City, Indiana to Virgil and Ruby (Pivoney) Brown. He was raised in Lakeside and graduated from River Valley High School in 1977, playing football and running track all four years.
He received his Associates Degree in Building Construction Technology from Ferris State University. He proudly served his country in the US Army Special Forces (Green Beret). Brownie served 14 years active duty and 14 years as a Guard and Reserve. During this time he visited 60 countries, built a school in a remote, hostile part of El Salvador and built infrastructure for Special Forces Camps in Central America. He used his knowledge of 4 languages to train foreign military forces.
Brownie spent 18 months in Iraq / Qatar and 4 years in Afghanistan. He not only served his country, earning many awards of valor, he also served his community, neighbors, and friends. He served as Sergeant at Arms for Post 204 American Legion, Three Oaks, he was a member and officer of the Three Oaks Lions Club, he was a mentor for 4-H construction classes and helped to build Timbertown at Watkin’s Park. He was a carpenter, building homes as Brownies Construction Company. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Three Oaks. Brownie enjoyed playing volleyball, bowling, beanbag cornhole, playing poker, and riding his Harley. Gentle, tough, giving, he was a true hometown hero.
Survivors include his mother and step father, Ruby and George Reitz of Union Pier, Michigan, his brother Barry E. Brown of South Bend, Indiana step brother Rick Reitz of Three Oaks, nephew Matthew (Alisha) Reitz, niece Erica (Chad) Clark, aunts Vernieta Kurina and Claudia Ostrowski, uncle Miles Becvar, aunts, Karen Pivoney, Diana Pivoney, Charlene Pivoney and Jeanne Pivoney, uncles, Charles Pivoney, Steve (Carol) Pivoney and Craig Pivoney, along with numerous, cousins and friends who all were so special to him. He was preceded in death by his father, Virgil Brown, grandparents, Ralph and Bella Brown, Charles and Noba Pivoney and step sister Julie Reitz Dimuro.
