5 Obituaries For 5 Beloved Victims of Aurora Shooting
Funeral services begin today (Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019) for the five victims of the Friday mass shooting in Aurora.
We’ve heard the stories of the events of that day, the thoughts of Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman, the vigils and the calls for thoughts and prayers.
Today, we take a moment to remember the victims.
The following are four obituaries from the websites of local funeral homes, as well as a remembrance of Josh Pinkard, whose funeral service will be held in Alabama and whose obituary is pending
Trevor Melvin Wehner
April 22, 1997 — Feb. 15, 2019
CREDIT: Dunn Family Funeral Home
Trevor Melvin Wehner, 21, of Sheridan, passed away on Feb. 15. He was born on April 22, 1997, in Aurora, the son of Bonnie Anliker Rich and Tom Wehner. He was raised in Sheridan, in a small-town community where he was actively involved.
He graduated in 2015 from Serena High School. He attended Illinois Valley Community College, where he played baseball and graduated in 2017. He was a senior at Northern Illinois University, studying human resources and business.
Trevor had a love of sports but especially for baseball. He made many friends on every team he played on or against. He enjoyed Magic, League of Legends and World of Warcraft. Trevor never met a stranger.
He had a smile that would light up the room and always had a silly joke or comment to say. He was fun-loving and made friends with everyone young and old.
He is survived by his grandparents, Terry Wehner, Shirley Wehner and Rita Day; his parents and stepfather, Jim; his brothers Brian Wehner (Christie Pierce), Brandon Anliker and Thomas Wehner; and his sister, Stephanie Wehner. He also is survived by the love of his life, Winter Lane, of Sheridan. He is survived by aunts and uncles, Carrie and Glen Kerr, Anne Wehner and Jay and Lisa Wehner; numerous cousins; and a town-full of friends.
He was preceded in death by grandparents Melvin and Milly Anliker. Trevor will be deeply missed and loved forever.
A visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, with the funeral service at 7 p.m. at Gabel-Dunn Funeral Home Ltd. in Sheridan. Pastor Eric Hayes, of the Christian Community Church in Aurora, will officiate. Following the service at 7 p.m., visitors are invited to the Sheridan Fire Department for further celebration of Trevor’s life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Trevor Melvin Wehner scholarship, c/o the Sheridan Bank, PO Box 327, Sheridan, IL, 60551.
Clayton Parks
Feb. 26, 1986 — Feb. 15, 2019
CREDIT: Willow Funeral Home
Clayton Parks, 32, of Elgin passed away on Feb. 15, 2019. He was born in Peoria, IL, on Feb. 26, 1986, to Roger and Leslie Parks, and grew up in Princeville, IL.
Clay was a human resources manager at Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, where he worked since November. He also was an alumnus of Northern Illinois University where he graduated in 2014 from the College of Business.
Clay was a force to be reckoned with. He commanded attention when he entered a room and could strike up a conversation with anyone he came into contact with. His smile and his laugh were contagious, and he was a fierce protector of his family and friends.
He was an avid sports fan (Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs), and he had many hobbies, but his family was his greatest joy. He took his responsibilities as a husband and father very seriously and held those titles above all else.
He is survived by his wife, Abby Parks (Bowen); his son, Axel Parks; his mother and step-father, Leslie and Dave Kendra; brother, Cole Sloan; his in-laws, Todd and Kim Bowen; sister-in-law, Kaylynn (Mike) O’Donnell; and his maternal grandmother, Charlene Bell.
He was preceded in death by his father Roger Parks; paternal grandparents, Earl Dale Parks and Evelyn Casley; and his maternal grandfather, Bill Deer.
As we celebrate Clay’s life, please come dressed in what makes you most comfortable. For Clay, that was sports attire or Salt Life brand clothing. He left the formal dress for work, so let’s show our love for him by honoring his stance on comfortable clothing and wearing what’s most comfortable to us, whether that’s sports attire, Salt Life, or something else!
All are invited to gather together to celebrate Clay’s life at a visitation to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, with a 2 p.m.chapel service at Willow Funeral Home, 1415 W. Algonquin Road, (one mile east of Randall Road.) Algonquin. Interment will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Parks family using the following GoFundMe campaigns:
Clay Parks Memory Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/clay-parks-memory-fund
Clay Parks – Axel Parks’ College Fund #AuroraStrong: https://www.gofundme.com/vmtbaj-aurora-strong-axel-parks-college-fund
Online condolences may be directed at willowfh.com or for Service Information: (847) 458-1700
Russell B. Beyer
Feb. 21, 1971 — Feb. 15, 2019
CREDIT: Dieterle Funeral Home
Russell B. Beyer of Yorkville, IL passed away Feb. 15, 2019. He was born Feb. 21, 1971 in Aurora, IL. Russell worked at Henry Pratt for 25-plus years and was a union shop chairman.
He is survived by his children, Megan Beyer and Brett Beyer, his parents, Theodore and Joyce Beyer, sister, Dawn Beyer, brother, Joshua (Summer) Beyer Sr. , nephew ,Joshua Beyer Jr., niece, Autumn Beyer, his loyal companion, Billy Bob (His Dog) and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Nick and Betty Beyer, Harold Hoehn, aunts, Patty Beyer and Bonnie Root, uncles, William Hoehn, Russell Beyer, Nick Beyer, Jim Beyer, and Dennis (Joe Boy) Beyer.
Russell was a fun, loving gentle giant of a guy, who was friends with everyone. Russell would truly give you the shirt off of his back. He was an extremely proud and dedicated union guy. A great dad, son, brother, and uncle. Russell will be forever missed by his family and so many more!
Family will be receiving guests from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at Dieterle Memorial Home, 1120 S. Broadway Ave., Montgomery, IL 60538. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, at Dieterle Memorial Home. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Aurora.
For information and online guestbook visit www.dieterlememorialhome.com
Vicente Juarez
May 5, 1964 — Feb. 15, 2019
CREDIT: Dunn Family Funeral Home,
Vicente Juarez, 54, of Oswego, IL, passed away on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019 in Aurora, IL. He was born on May 5, 1964, in Juarez Mexico, a son to Genoveva Martinez and the late Pablo Juarez.
Vicente was a fork lift operator at Henry Pratt Co. where he worked for the last 15 years. In 1981 He married the love of his life, Leticia Lupercio in Geneva, IL.
He was a hardworking, responsible and loving husband, father and grandfather.
Vicente could always be heard shouting out loud “Ay Mija” anytime the weather took a turn for the worst all while comforting his family with laughs. Vicente had a passion for working on cars with his sons, and had a soft spot for a particular 1969 Chevy Impala.
Vicente is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Leticia (Lupercio) Juarez; three children, Adrian Juarez, Diana Juarez, Christian Juarez; eight grandchildren, Osvaldo, Adrian Jr., Nathan, Dyani, Alize, Genesis, Zaydrian, Eliana; five sisters, Florencia Juarez, Guadalupe Juarez, Maria Juarez, Petra Juarez, Irene Juarez; three brothers, Gabino Juarez, Pablo Juarez, and Aurelio Juarez.
He was preceded in death by his father and brother Mike Juarez.
Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at Dunn Family Funeral Home With Crematory. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, 10:00 A.M. at Dunn Family Funeral Home, 1801 S. Douglas Road, Oswego, IL 60543. Burial will follow at Spring Lake Cemetery in Aurora, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Leticia Juarez for funeral expenses.
For information: 630/554-3888 or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com
Josh Pinkard
(CREDIT: Josh Pinkard Memorial Go Fund Me page)
Pinkard graduated from Holly Pond and enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he earned an engineering degree and met his wife, Terra, of Laurel, MI. He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Alabama.
Josh Pinkard and his wife, Terra, were the parents of three children — a daughter and two sons.
For more than 13 years, Pinkard, 37, had worked for Mueller Water Products, mostly in Albertville. In April 2018, he was promoted to plant manager at the company’s Aurora plant, according to Associated Press reports.
In a social media post, Terra Pinkard of Oswego, recounted how her husband Josh managed to send her a final message.
“The man who was dying … found the clarity of mind for just a second to send me one last text to let me know he would always love me,” Terra Pinkard wrote. “This unbelievable person was robbed from us.”
Media sources say funeral arrangements are being handled by Holly Pond Funeral Home in Holly Pond, AL.
