Winston John Brass, 71, of Rochelle, passed away Friday, July 10, 2009, with his wife and seven children at his side.
He was born May 3, 1938 in Vizagapatam, India to Baden and Alice Brass.
Winston immigrated to the United States in 1959 to work at Caron International. He married Pauline Caron on June 30, 1962 and they were blessed with 47 years of marriage.
He served the City of Rochelle when he joined the Rochelle Police Department in January 1968 as a patrolman. He graduated from The FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute. He was a guest lecturer at the National Police Academy of India and the head of the criminal justice program at Kishwaukee College.
His law enforcement career progressed steadily and he achieved the rank of Chief of Police in January 1974. He retired as chief in March of 1993. After his retirement he worked for the Illinois Attorney General's Office training officers in TRIAD.
Survivors include his wife: Pauline Brass of Rochelle, and his children: Renée Brass of Chicago; Denise (Jeff) Hansford of Aurora; André (Marguerite) Brass of Byron, Elise (Jeff) Rexroat of Mukilteo, Washington; Yvonne Brass of Rochelle, Dionne (Chad) Horner of Rochelle and Jeanette (Brad) Koeller of Aurora.
He has blessed us with his loving faith and will be truly missed by his siblings, Neville (Tricia) Brass, Raymond Brass, Shirley (Del) Graves and all his grandchildren: Mallory, Marissa, Nathaniel, Madeleine, Nicholas, Nolan, Spencer, Lauren, Ethan, Téa, Zoe, Trevor, Evan, Elise, Ava , Tess and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle from 4 to 8 pm with a rosary service at 7:30 PM. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Rochelle, on Wednesday July 15, 2009 at 10 am with a visitation from 9 to 10AM prior to service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Patrick Catholic Church or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.