Cleo Thomas Brown, son of Clyde Ray and Muriel Dolly (Thomas) Brown, was born in Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan. Cleo attended and graduated from Okemos High School.  He joined the US Army 10 July 1944, serving with the 82nd Airborne, only to be captured, imprisoned in Germany as a P.O.W.  Cleo was given an honorable discharge from military service 6 April 1946.   On 12 October 1945 in Lansing, Cleo wed Lois Ellen Longanecker. Cleo died 3 February 1993. and interred Leek Cemetery, Okemos.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 4 January 1946

OKEMOS PRIVATE AND BRIDE GIVEN MILWAUKEE TRIP

MILWAUKEE January 4 (AP)--A 20 year-old Lansing, Mich. soldier and his bride of three months today began a 14-day second honeymoon at the Wisconsin hotel here.

   The soldier, Pvt. Cleo Brown, was the first of a group of former prisoners of war to arrive in Milwaukee under the plan sponsored by the secretary of war providing 14-day vacations in big city hotels throughout the country.

  "It's a swell idea," said Brown. "Neither of us has been in Milwaukee before and we just plan to see the town and mostly just loaf."

   Brown, an army paratrooper, was taken prisoner in the Ruhr pocket April 7, 1945, but spent only eight days in the hands of the enemy.  He returned home the latter part of September and was married October 12. 

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 5 February 1993

BROWN, CLEO T.

MASON

Age 67, died February 3, 1993.  Born July 9, 1925 in Ingham County, MI.  Mr. Brown worked for many years as a Milkman in East Lansing for Heatherwood Farms.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was held P.O.W. in Germany.  He is a member of Okemos Community Church.  Preceding him in death were his daughter, Susan (1969) and son, Thomas Dale (1957).  Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Lois; daughter, Judy (John); son, Timothy (Karen); 4 grandchildren; brother, Loren; sister, Evelyn (Ed) Monette; brother-in-law, Bob (Phyllis) Hayden.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 6, 1 p.m. at Gorsline-Runciman Co. East Chapel.