Joe was born on June 6, 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri; a son to the late Joseph Ross and Elizabeth (Etter) Brown Sr. Joe graduated from Pekin Community High School in 1967. He attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature. In 1974, he graduated from law school at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and became licensed to practice the same year.

Following graduation, Joe became an assistant States Attorney in Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois where he handled many prosecuting assignments, including felony trials. In 1978, he left to work for Paul E. Riley and J. William Lucco, following the death of the legendary Dick Mudge. Becoming a partner in 1980, he practiced law in Edwardsville, Illinois for 39 years with his great friend and partner, Bill Lucco, until shortly before his death.

 Joe served as a Madison County Prosecutor and Assistant States Attorney from 1974 to 1978. He was a member of the Illinois Bar Association, the Madison County Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association. He was also a member of the U.S. Supreme Court, Illinois Supreme Court and U.S. District Court. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus and the St. Jerome Catholic Church in Troy, Illinois. In his free time, Joe enjoyed playing golf with the Thursday night Golf League at Oakbrook in Edwardsville, Illinois, and was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Fighting Illini. Joe will be remembered for his community service, his kind heart and all the special times he shared with his family and friends.