JEFFREY AHRENS

JEFFREY FRANKLIN AHRENS

Crystal Lake, IL

Jeffrey Franklin Ahrens, of

Crystal Lake,

Illinois, died

from complications aris-

ing from a

series of strokes at exactly 01:47:00 a.m. CDT on October 3, 2010, at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, attended by numerous friends and family. He was 49. Following Jeff's wishes, his kidneys and heart valves were donated to waiting recipients.

Jeff Ahrens was born on July 25, 1961 in Chateauroux, France to parents Franklin and Kay Ahrens. He grew up in Ames, Iowa, with his brothers Matt and Greg and sister Kristen, earning degrees in Religion and Philosophy (BA) and Library and Information Science (MA) from the University of Iowa. A proficient cataloger and polyglot (fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and conversant in half a dozen other languages) he became a librarian of note, most recently Head of Technical Services at Round Lake Area Public Library in Round Lake, Illinois.

On October 5, 1996, Jeff married Jennie Ver Steeg of Des Moines, Iowa in a ceremony at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, Iowa. An ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, he performed numerous marriages of family and friends, all of which survive unsundered to this day. He valued life, honored the truth, evaluated all ideas critically, and lived every moment with zest and joie d'vivre.

He is survived by his beloved wife Jennie, parents Franklin and Kay Ahrens, siblings Matt and Liz Ahrens (nieces Kate and Madeline), Greg and Vanessa (nephew Sam and niece Kayla), and Brad and Kristin Vest (niece Sarah and nephew Daniel); cats Hover, Yowlie and Trinket, and a lifetime of friends spanning generations, nationalities and geography.

The Round Lake Area Public Library will be closed on Friday, October 15, 2010 in Jeff's remembrance. A memorial tree will be planted on the grounds following a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. CDT.

A gathering to celebrate Jeff's life will take place on Saturday, October 16, 2010, at the historic Phillips House at 721 N . Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa, from 2 to 6 p.m. CDT, sunset.

Arrangements will be made with the city to allow parking on both sides of the street. Please bring songs, audio, photos and stories to share. In lieu of flowers, consider making donations to the Iowa State University Companion Animals Fund, the Round Lake Area Public Library, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the Democratic Party or the American Civil Liberties Union.

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long...and you have burned sovery, very brightly."