Wayne G. DeYoung

Wayne G. DeYoung passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. He was born on December 22, 1933 in Wichert, the son of Peter & Gladys (Sirois) DeYoung. Wayne grew up working on the family farm in Wichert, where his parents grew Gladiolus. He enjoyed fishing the Kankakee River with his father and brother, which gave him his lifelong love of nature and the outdoors. After graduating from St. Anne High School, Wayne attended Purdue University and majored in Pharmacology & Sciences. With the onset of the Korean War, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He attended Naval flight training school in Norman, OK and finished top 10 in his class. He became a member of the Naval Air Corps. He served proudly for 4 years. Upon returning home from the service, he returned to the family farm and, along with his brother, Keith, they opened Pinewood Hunting Club in 1975, which was in operation until 2014. Wayne loved the outdoors and nature. He traveled to Argentina, Alaska, Mexico, and many other places on many hunting and fishing trips. He would always say that the outdoors was the greatest church. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Gina (Rennewanz) DeYoung; his children, Terry (Margaret) DeYoung of Lowell, IN, Daniel (Kim) DeYoung of St. Anne, David (Stephanie) DeYoung of Grand Rivers, KY, and Sherri (Dominik) Gregorczyk of Chicago; his grandchildren, Jacob, Dylan DeYoung, Jessica (Josh) DeYoung, Danielle (Bailey) DeYoung, Lydia (Cesar) Salgado of FL, Kyle DeYoung of St. Anne, Samantha (Michael) Wray of TX , Katie Hughes of TN, Aaron DeYoung of KY, and Henryk (Simone) Gregorczyk of Chicago; eight great-grandchildren; and many more lifetime friends. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Keith DeYoung; sister and brother-in-law, Lynne & Glenn Houk; nephews, Eric DeYoung and Alec DeYoung; and dear friends, Pete Poggi, Laurel Dean Anderson, Kenny Miedema, and Elwood Miedema. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. A graveside service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Wichert. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Samaritans Purse, Uplifted Care, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Wayne G. DeYoung

December 22, 1933 - January 8, 2025