James R. "Sonny" Brown, 84 of Marshfield died peacefully on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at Stoney River Memory Care in Marshfield. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30am Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church with Fr. Eric Berns officiating. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted at the church following the Mass by the American Legion Post # 54 of Marshfield. Visitations will be from 4-7pm Monday at Rembs Funeral Home and again on Tuesday at the church from 10:30am until service time. There will be an Elks Lodge of Sorrow at 6:15pm Monday followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30pm at Rembs Funeral Home. Sonny was born on December 30, 1930 in Marshfield to Otto and Monica (Bartel) Brown. He attended Marshfield Senior High School then enlisted in the United State Air Force on January 5, 1948 until his honorable discharge on January 4, 1952. Sonny reenlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 18, 1953 and was discharged on September 17, 1955. He was united in marriage to JoAnn C. Fischer on October 22, 1955 at St. John's Catholic Church in Marshfield. When he returned to Marshfield, he operated the Horseshoe Café until 1964. Sonny then owned and operated Brown's Bar until retiring in 1994 and sold the bar to his sons Mike and Tom. He continued to help at the bar and enjoyed yard work at his home. He also enjoyed pool, baseball and softball along with family gatherings, especially the grandkids. Sonny is survived by his wife JoAnn, children Tom Brown of Marshfield, Shelly (Steve) Pennebaker of Oak Grove, MN and Mike Brown of Marshfield; 7 grandchildren, Kayla Bjoroneberg , Chelsea Kelly, Brandon Brown, Josie Brown, Sadie Pennebaker, Cody Pennebaker and Reggi Brown. He is further survived by a brother Jerry (Barbara) Brown of Arpin and 2 sisters, Jacqueline (Dale) Wolfe of Marshfield and Helen Meyer of DePere and a brother-in-law Clarence Kraemer of St. Paul, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Mercedes Kraemer. The family would like to thank the staff at Stoney River Memory Care and Fr. Berns for their compassionate care and words. Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com