Michael Brown, Jr. was born on November 17, 1983, in Olympia Fields, Illinois, to Mike and Kim Brown. He was the oldest of three children. His brother and sister are Ryan and Kendall. Michael was known to 
his family and friends as “Mike”, “Mikey” or “Brownie.”
After graduating from Crown Point High School in May, 2002, Mike was studying criminal justice at Indiana University Northwest in Hammond. He was helping to pay his way through college by working at UPS in Illinois.
He was also a referee for local basketball groups and an umpire for Little League teams. Mike was a very proud member of the Crown Point Civil Defense. His goal was to eventually work for the FBI or in some field of criminal justice in which he could make a contribution to help others.
He really liked fishing, golf, watching sports and shooting pool. He was always inquisitive and wanting to know about how something worked or what happened next.
Mike had lots of favorite things, but he mostly enjoyed helping others. He was a typical young boy who loved to eat, sleep, hangout with his friends — Pat, Kyle, Pat and Heather — and spend time with his brother and sister; but he was a remarkable young man who was very personable and talkative with everyone. He didn’t just walk by and say “hi,” but stopped to chat whenever he saw a person he knew.
Mike (in the Hawaiin shirt) loved spending time with his friends during high school. Brownie and his friends would dress up in strange outfits to support the girls basketball team at games.
Mike will be remembered by his family, friends, coaches and teachers for his quick smile, his easy-going and helpful attitude, and his love for life.
Mikey often called family who lived in other parts of the country to say hi, keep in touch, and let everyone know how well he was doing and what was new in his life.
His love for family and friends was well known to them. Mikey was very affectionate and considerate of others. His brother and sister miss him very much, as well as all who new and loved him.
If Mikey were here to say good bye, he’d say, “Don’t feel bad that I’m not with you anymore. I know I am in your hearts, that I was well loved by very special people, and I love all of you — always will.”