Philip A. Brown

Philip A. Brown, 72, a prominent Berrien County attorney for more than four decades and lifelong resident of this community, passed away Wednesday at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph,following a brief illness. A visitation will be held this evening from 5 until 8 at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday morning at 9 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ at Pipestone and Broadway streets in Benton Harbor. The Rev. Dr. Bob Braman, of the First Congregational United Church of Christ of St. Joseph, will officiate. Interment will be in the family plot at Crystal Springs Cemetery. Those wishing to sign the guest-book or share a memory online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Philip was born Aug. 21, 1930, in Benton Harbor, the son of the late Dr. William E. Brown and Gertrude Brown. His father, a dentist, was a former Benton Harbor mayor, and his mother was a piano teacher for many years. Philip grew up in Benton Harbor where he attended elementary school, junior high school and was a 1948 graduate of Benton Harbor High School. He attended Benton Harbor Junior College (now Lake Michigan College) for two years, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in business and public service at Michigan State University in 1952. Philip and the former Patricia Treichel, who survives, were married July 12, 1952, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Benton Harbor. Pat described Philip as a “wonderful caring husband, father and grandfather,” deeply committed to his many clients and loyal to his friends. The Browns were active members of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Benton Harbor, of which Philip was a former board member. The church, which he began attending at the age of 5, was very important to him. “My father was always there for us,” remarked Sheryl Stone (Alan). A registered nurse from Stevensville, She further described her dad as “kind, decent and very strong. He helped a lot of people.” Brian Pierce of Farmington, Mich., the eldest grandchild, remembers his grandfather as “somebody whom we could always talk to and depend on to give us straight advice. I’ve never really looked at Grandpa as a grandfather but rather as a father figure and someone to look up to.” Paul Taglia, a St. Joseph attorney and close friend and colleague, described Philip as “a fine lawyer and as warm and loyal a friend as any man could ever want.” “I will miss the twinkle in his eyes and that sly, endearing smile,” said Bonnie Coon Barkell of Magician Lake, a high school classmate of Philip and member of a luncheon group that included the Browns. Other friends of Philip remember him as a delightful individual with a keen and sometimes impish sense of humor. In 1957 Philip was awarded his law degree from the University of Notre Dame. He opened his law office at 600 Main Street in St. Joseph, and practiced there until his retirement in December of 2000. Philip enjoyed a long and challenging career, and was deeply concerned with the welfare of his friends and clients. He was a recognized expert in the field of bankruptcy, and made countless trips to bankruptcy court in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. He served as village attorney for Stevensville and New Buffalo, and assisted in New Buffalo’s transition to a city. Also, he was a former associate municipal judge and assistant city attorney for the city of St. Joseph. Many who knew Philip recall his 14 years of driving the famous miniature steam engines at the House of David. He began operating the locomotives in 1942, and continued doing so during his years at Notre Dame. For many years Philip and Donald E. Sabadin of Stevensville, a boyhood friend and fellow engineer during their House of David days, were partners in the restaurant businesses. They operated the Anchor Inn in Benton Harbor and Sinbad’s in south St. Joseph. The Brown family took many traveling vacations while the children were growing up. On their 25th wedding anniversary, the children gave their parents a 17-day package tour of Europe. Philip and Pat also journeyed to Italy several times with Paul Taglia and his wife Jackie. Philip was an avid sports fan, and closely followed the fortunes of the Notre Dame football team and the Detroit Tigers. A constant source of pleasure and comfort to Philip was his dog, Gretel. Philip was as member of the local and state bar associations, and a former member of the Elks Lodge of St. Joseph. Survivors besides his wife and daughter Sheryl include a son, Scott P. Brown of St. Joseph; daughters Suzanne Heckert (Boyd) of Mattawan and Cynthia Brown of Durango, Colo.; seven grandchildren, Neil Brown and Philip (P.J.) Brown, Brian Pierce and Melissa Pierce, Sarah Heckert, Chelsea Heckert and Holly Heckert; and a brother, Dr. William E. Brown of Ann Arbor. Another brother, Dr. Merle E. Brown, preceded him in death. Roger Kullenberg of Kalamazoo and Justin Smith of Coloma were high school classmates and special friends. Philip fought a long and courageous battle against diabetes, which he contracted at age 11. The family suggests that donations go to The American Diabetes Association of Michigan or to the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Benton Harbor.