Jeffery Lodge Wilgus

Jeffery Lodge Wilgus was born in Portland, Oregon on April 17, 1964, and passed away near his home in River Grove, Illinois, on September 14, 2024, at age 60 following complications with heart disease. Raised in the Northwest, Midwest, and Southern California, Jeff was easygoing, quick to connect with others, and brought joy, humor, and a sense of reason to all who knew him. As a child, he enjoyed skateboarding, boogie boarding, and hacky sack along the beaches, piers, and sidewalks of Seal Beach, California. As a high school student in Rockford, Illinois, he enjoyed wrestling, soccer, football, and the occasional beer – or lots of them. As a college student at Northern Illinois University, he served as a founding member of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and proudly supported the display of a poster in his dorm room that said, "Whenever I feel like studying, I just lie down and wait 'til the feeling goes away." Nevertheless, he excelled academically with a unique blend of intellect and mischievousness. He earned a bachelor's degree in computer science at NIU followed by a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He pursued the latter while working full-time, raising a family, and studying on nights, weekends, and train rides during his commute from the northern suburbs to downtown Chicago where he worked as a technical analyst for CNA and information architecture consultant for RR Donnelley.
Jeff spent many adult years in Vernon Hills, Illinois, where he enjoyed raising his kids, watching Chicago sporting events, playing music in a local band, and supporting and coaching youth sports. He also built several businesses, including Arcane Systems, Arias Information Solutions, and Workflow Health. In more recent years, he worked as a Principal Solutions Architect at Incorta and developed a passion for motorcycles, taking annual trips across the country with his brother Steve, who he was always pleased to follow - whether through the rolling hills of West Virginia, the Black Hills of South Dakota, or elsewhere. Immediately prior to his passing, Jeff and Steve had been enjoying a 3-week trip through Colorado, New Mexico, Northern California, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming, with gorgeous stops among the redwoods, atop Crater Lake, and beneath the Tetons. He was a proud and active member of the Route 66 Indian Motorcycle Riders Group and loved being on the road. He also enjoyed whiskey, cigars, Blondie's Diner, and any opportunity to be with family.
His proudest accomplishments were undoubtedly his children, but he displayed equal interest in all nieces and nephews – many of whom called him "Uncle Jeffie" and adored his playful attention. He will be missed and remembered as a great friend, fun uncle, adoring father, responsible (yet irresponsible) older brother, and a good man who never panicked, rarely complained, and led with a version of common sense that brought calm and composure to trying times of various types.
He was predeceased by his parents Gregg Wilgus and Cheryl Brower-Hastings and is survived by a loving and grief-stricken family, including his children Parker Wilgus and Meghan Lee; their significant others Amanda Hershman (Parker) and Dustin Lee (Meghan); siblings Steve Wilgus, Jay Wilgus (Emily Flinkstrom), Gillian McAfee (Felix McAfee), and Gillian Hastings (Krzysztof Piotroski); stepmother/bonus mom Lynda Wilgus; and an extended group of aunts, uncles, in-laws (current and former), cousins, nieces, and nephews who will miss him dearly and remember him forever.
Join Jeff's family at his favorite diner, Blondie's, on September 21, 2024, from 3pm to 7pm for a visitation and remembrance in Jeff's honor. A Celebration of Life event will follow in the coming months.
Blondie's Diner, 8921 W Grand Avenue, River Grove, IL 60171
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Ride Janie Ride Foundation, which works to alleviate the financial burden of cancer patients. Ahead of the Celebration of Life, please submit photos and memories to his family at jeffwilgusmemorial@gmail.com.