Longtime Hampshire trustee dies

Tom Brown, a 14-year veteran of the Hampshire village board, died Tuesday at his home. He was 62.

Brown served as a trustee in the 1990s and the early part of this decade, during Bill Schmidt's long tenure as Hampshire mayor.

He worked to improve Hampshire's public safety and finances, his former colleagues said.

"He always had the best interests of the village at heart," said Hampshire Trustee Ed Szydlowski, who served with Brown. "He always spoke his mind. It may not be what people wanted to hear, but it had to be said."

Village President Jeff Magnussen said the village had not yet determined how to mark Brown's passing, but would probably honor him with bunting on village hall and a moment of silence at the next board meeting.

"I knew Tom both as a trustee and a private citizen," Magnussen said. "He certainly cared about the village of Hampshire. That was his number one goal: to make sure what was done for the village was done in the best way."

Brown was born in Woodstock in 1947 and graduated from McHenry High School in 1965 before serving in the U.S. Army in Europe during the Vietnam War. When he returned to civilian life, Brown worked for several packaging companies as a plastics engineer.

He is survived by his wife, Gayle, and his sons, Dennis, Brian and Jeff. Memorials can be made to the Thomas Brown Memorial Fund, c/o Frederick Funeral Home, P.O. Box 445, Hampshire, IL 60140.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Fredrick Funeral Home, 284 Park St., Hampshire. Burial will be at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Cemetery in Hampshire. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.