Roger Wayne Brown

Roger Wayne Brown, 72, of Sturbridge, formerly of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Roger was born on May 6, 1948 in Worcester, one of eight children to the late Kenneth W. Brown Sr. and Nora E. (Learned) McKeon.  He graduated from Commerce High School in 1965 and went on to serve his country in the Vietnam War for the United States Army from 1966 to 1969.  Roger was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and a Purple Heart Medal for his dedicated service to his fellow brothers and to his country.  He left the service as Sgt with the 334th Aviation Company in April 1969.

Roger worked as a fuel service operator for CK Smith for a short time before retiring in 2013.  He previously worked as a production manager for Polar Beverages for over 15 years, before relocating to Florida for a few years. Roger was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 3439 in North Brookfield and the American Legion Tatnuck Post 288.  Roger was a social butterfly with a great sense of humor, who loved to make everyone laugh.  He loved dancing and country music.  He was a great father and friend to his daughters and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He looked forward to weekly breakfast and chats with his best friend and sister Debra. He also loved watching Jeopardy, the Red Sox, going to the casino, and having a cold beer with friends.  His daily routine included making his rounds to visit with countless friends at the various local restaurants and veterans’ clubs.  He was a strong willed man, with a heart of Gold.

Roger’s wife of 40 years, the love of his life, Mary L. (McKeon) Brown passed away in February of 2009.  He leaves his five daughters, Mary  Brown and her wife Lynn Brown of Worcester, Charlene Taubert and her husband Eric of Ogunquit, ME., Danielle Brown and her fiancé Scott Lavallee of Fiskdale, Deborah Dunn and her husband Matt of Leominster, and Kelly Gidopoulos and her fiancé Eric Jolin of Brookfield: two brothers, Kenneth W. Brown, Jr. of Leominster and Ronald K. Brown of Nevada; five sisters, Beverly J. Gould of Florida, Cheryle A. Roussin of Arizona, Maureen V. Baker and Debra Brown both of Worcester and Louanne Harvey of Texas; eleven grandchildren, Alexis and Mason, Jeremy and Christina, Katlyn, Donald and Nathen, Nikolas and Maya, Aaron and Anita; two great grandchildren, Brooklynn and Averie as well as many nieces and nephews, and his companion Gerry Beeso of Webster.  He is predeceased by his granddaughter, Hannah Mary and a stepdaughter, Anita Bogren.

Relatives and friends are invited to a period of calling hours on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 4-7 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St, Worcester, MA.  Roger’s services will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 with a procession departing from the funeral home at 9:45 am to the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon, MA where burial with military funeral honors will be rendered at 11:00 am.

*Masks and social distancing are mandatory in the funeral home and at the cemetery for all that are attending Roger’s services.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name can be made to: The Fisher House, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132, or to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.  To share your thoughts and memories of Roger, please visit his personal guestbook at www.mercadantefuneral.com.