BROWN, LEON J.

Leon J. Brown, age 86, of Portage/Hebron, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2009. Leon was born October 24, 1922, in Marion, IN. He moved to Gary, IN. Leon enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII, where, as a Marine Raider, he fought in Guam and Okinawa. He was an electrician at U.S. Steel until he retired in 1983. Leon was an active fisherman especially with his friends, Harry Klein (deceased) and Jack Simms, and kept in touch with Marine buddy, Nick Albanese, Semper Fi. Leon was a loving husband, father, grandfather and loyal friend. He will be greatly missed. Leon was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Pauline; parents: Jake and Nellie Brown of Gary; sister, Elizabeth (Carl) Lengel; brothers: Walter (Lois) Brown and Adam Brown. Surviving to mourn his passing: his loving children: Kenneth (fiancee Claudia) Brown, Beth (Jim) Webster, and Paul Brown; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren: and many nieces and nephews. Friends and relatives may visit with the family on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Burns Funeral Home, 701 E. 7th Street, Hobart. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Burns Funeral Home with Rev. Dominick Bertino officiating. Services will terminate at the funeral home with cremation to follow at the Burns Funeral Home Crematory.