Owen Wrzeszcz Obituary

Owen E. Wrzeszcz

Born: Oct. 12, 1938; in Oak Park, IL

Died: Feb. 13, 2015; in Freeport, IL

Owen Edward Wrzeszcz followed the Scouting Oath by doing his best for God, country and others. He was dedicated to his family, Church, his students and scouts.

On Friday, February 13, 2015, Owen passed into heaven from the Stephenson Nursing Facility, Freeport, Illinois.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 20, 2015 at Yorkfield Presbyterian Church, 1099 S. York Rd., Elmhurst, IL 60126. Another Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2015 at the Schapville Zion Presbyterian Church, 1006 East Schapville Rd., Elizabeth, IL 61028. There will be visitation from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 23, 2015 at the Schapville Zion Presbyterian Church prior to the memorial service. Burial of ashes will take place in the Church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Owen's memory to FHN Hospice, the Sonshine Center, and/or the Elmhurst Yorkfield Food Pantry.

Friends are invited to share in Owen's life at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com.

Owen was born October 12, 1938 in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Ambrose and Katherine (Uebel) Wrzeszcz. He is a 1956 graduate of the Oak Park High School, and a 1960 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in Mathematics and Education. Later he would go on to receive his Master's Degree from the University of Illinois, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

On January 28, 1961, Owen married Donna Jay in Elmhurst. They raised three children and have celebrated fifty-four years of marriage.

Owen taught mathematics for many years, first at Howard Jr. High School in Wilmette, then twenty-five years at Elmhurst York High School. In 1985, Owen and Rev. Donna moved to Schapville, Illinois where they served the Schapville Zion Presbyterian Church until 2002.

All throughout life, Owen found ways to serve, first by training more than forty Eagle Scouts over twenty-five years, including four Eagle Scouts in the Wrzeszcz family; he was instrumental in building the Sonshine Center in Schapville to help clothe those in-need; and Owen also served as a substitute teacher in the River Ridge School District. Rev. Donna says, "Owen was a beautiful man, a wonderful husband and father. He never raised his voice, was calming and loving. He was close to an angel."

Owen was a member of the Schapville Zion Presbyterian Church, Retired Teachers Association and the Theta Kappa Phi Fraternity at NIU.

Owen will be dearly missed by his wife, Rev. Donna Wrzeszcz of Davis, Illinois; three children, Branch Wrzeszcz of Seattle, WA, Cheryl Ruf of Seattle, and Matthew (Jennifer) Parker Wrzeszcz of Lombard, IL; five grandchildren, Samuel (Allison) Lamson, Zachary Wrzeszcz, Mark Ruf, Peter (Kyla) Ruf and Emma Grace Wrzeszcz.

Owen is preceded in death by both parents and two brothers, Gregory and Timothy.