Obituaries

Jon Wrenn Jon Wrenn died in his sleep the night of June 25, 2021, at his home, the DuPage County Care Center in Wheaton, Illinois. Jon was born on November 11, 1969, to Bob and Ida Wrenn at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois, and raised on Leonard Street in Winfield, Illinois. While Jon spent most of his life in the same locale, his reach was far and wide. Everywhere Jon went, he left an indelible impression, whether in his hometown of Winfield, his adopted town of Spring Green, in travels to California, New York, Georgia, Minnesota, Norway, in the wilderness at Outward Bound, on his annual treks to Camp Wilderness Endeavor and Pass-A-Grille, Florida, and, since 1991, at the DuPage County Care Center. Jon will always be remembered for his adventurous spirit and abundant heart. Jon’s life was shaped and largely defined by a tragic automobile accident just days before high school graduation (WNHS ‘88) in which he was a passenger in a vehicle that lost control and crashed into a telephone pole. Jon suffered a traumatic brain injury and lay in a coma for 4.5 months stubbornly refusing to die. In his slow re-emergence, the sparkle in Jon’s eyes reawakened and foretold a determination to recover and live his best life possible. Jon’s fortitude and grit carried him through many difficult years of recovery, surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation. Through it all, Jon remained focused on what lie ahead rather than looking back wondering ‘what if’ or what was lost. Jon never felt trapped by his body or his disability – it’s who he was and he embraced it, living his life to the fullest. Through his example, Jon taught us what living with grace and hope really looks like. As a TBI survivor, Jon was fortunate to retain many of his best qualities. Jon’s abundant heart showed in how he cared about and connected with others. From a young age, Jon was always tuned in to others and their needs. Jon lifted others with his charm, wit and humor. His ever-positive attitude and optimistic outlook inspired all who knew him – “onward and upward!” This determined and adventurous spirit showed itself when he, as the leader of an Outward Bound group at age 17, set a record by summiting 15 peaks in the Sierra Nevada mountains in just two days. Jon also never lost his ability to persuade someone to get what he wanted, which served him well as the youngest of five or as someone challenged by mobility and speech. If the first person doesn’t give you a Coke, ask someone else! If you’re offered a cookie, why not ask for two?!  Jon is survived by four forever grateful siblings, Nancy (Jim) Bauch, Madison, Pam (Jay) Anderson Three Oaks, Michigna, Jennifer (Scott) Winner, Blue Mounds, Kent (Kris) Wrenn, Sycamore, Illinois; and 10 lucky nieces/nephews Leah, Tanya, Jessie, Pat, Chris, Ben, Lucy, Madeline, Asher and Haley; and five admiring grandnieces/nephews Kaleb, Hazel, Levi, Aiden and Amari. We are all so much better off for having Jon in our lives as he left an everlasting footprint in all our hearts. A celebration of Jon’s life will be held on Friday, July 16, at the Wheaton VFW Post 2164 (ON731 Papworth Street, Wheaton, IL 61087) at 5 p.m. Jon had the best parties (yes, in high school!) and we plan to make him proud by throwing his “hugest party ever!” Finally, in honor of Jon, live, love and eat cookies abundantly!