Kane County, Aurora Mourn Death of Longtime Law-Enforcer Stephen Wennmacher
Stephen Wennmacher (CREDIT: Aurora Police Department Facebook page)
Kane County is mourning the death of Stephen Wennmacher, 66, of Aurora, a longtime Aurora police officer and chairman of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Merit Commission.
Wennmacher died Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. He was born Jan. 23, 1950 in Aurora.
Wennmacher retired as an Aurora police sergeant after nearly 30 years of service to the department in 2003.
“Our family is mourning the death of a beloved retired colleague,” the Aurora Police Department said on its Facebook page.
Wennmacher literally worked his way up the ranks starting as a cadet in 1970. He was appointed a police officer in 1972 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1991. During his career, he worked in patrol, crime prevention and investigations as supervisor of the Juvenile Division. He received 13 official department commendations and numerous letters of appreciation from other law enforcement agencies, local schools and citizens.
He also served on the Aurora Police Department Employee Review Board to review and make recommendations on complaints filed with the Office of Professional Standards. He was also a member of the Illinois Juvenile Officers Association, Midwest Gang Investigators Association
Stephen Wennmacher (CREDIT: Daleiden Mortuary
Kane County Sheriff Don Kramer said Wennmacher was a valued leader.
“The Sheriff’s Office will miss Steve as he provided a vast amount of experience as the chairman of the Merit Commission,” he said. “As sheriff, I learned to appreciate his ability to read people and trusted his instinct to provide the office with qualified officers. He was always kind and generous to his fellow law enforcement community.”
The Kane County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page also acknowledged Wennmacher’s passing.
“The Sheriff’s Office joins our partners at the Aurora Police Department to mourn the loss of retired APD Sgt. Steve Wennmacher,” the office said. “At the time of his passing Steve was serving as the chairman of the Sheriff’s Merit Commission. The men and women of the Sheriff’s Office offer our condolences to Steve’s family and friends.”
Wennmacher was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Survivors include his two children, Michael (Jennifer) Wennmacher, Stephanie Wennmacher; his sister, Maryann (Jim) Higgins; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Claudia Wennmacher: his parents, Richard and Loretta (Secor) Wennmacher.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Deleiden Mortuary and continuing to St. Joseph Church at 10 a.m. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, with a liturgical wake service at 7 p.m. at The Daleiden Mortuary, 220 N. Lake Street, Aurora.
For more information, visit www.daleidenmortuary.com.
SOURCE: Kane County, city of Aurora Police Department Facebook page, Daleidan Mortuary.
About the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Merit Commission
The Kane County Board established the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Merit Commission in 1966. The commission is composed of three members: a chairman, a vice-chairman and secretary. The commission meets monthly or at times of testing and screening applicants for positions with the Sheriff’s Office. All deputized personnel of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office are under the jurisdiction of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Merit Commission.
The duties of the commission are to accept applications and to screen applicants through written examinations, agility tests and oral interviews. Upon successfully qualifying applicants, the commission prepares a certified list for the sheriff’s use. The Sheriff’s Office conducts investigations of background, reputation, character, employment records, and a psychological test. The commission also tests sheriff’s personnel for promotions and holds hearings on members of the Sheriff’s Office when complaints have been filed in violations of the Rules and Regulations.
