Hearing the words from your doctor, "You have a 9cm mass on your liver", is something no one can prepare to hear. Having a stage 4 cancer diagnosis we felt hopeful when they gave a 5-10 year outlook. No one was prepared for only two months to say goodbye to the rock of our family.
Although Jon was a highly respected attorney, his passion was supporting and mentoring children and families. As an adopted child himself, he understood the power of being wanted and having a team in your corner. Through the years Jon and Chelly housed billet kids in the Chicago area while also raising 4 kids of their own. Through coaching, board volunteer positions and parental involvement in youth sports programs, Jon was the hands of God's love to the community.
After an initial battle with colon cancer years ago, Jon was in remission and getting on a path to good health. On January 7th, 2026, Jon went to the doctor for some back pain. They determined there was no evidence of cancer and he was sent to physical therapy. After no relief he had some additional testing which identified a large mass on his liver. We were hopeful of treatment outcomes. Soon after Jon had serious infections and January 29th he had surgery to help treat Mersa and two additional infections in his abdomen. Although serious, the surgery went well and we were on the road to recovery from the infections. After a biopsy on February 4th and a 10 day waiting period we were told Jon had stage 4 colon cancer that metastasized to his liver and lungs. After asking the doctor if the kids should say goodbye, the docotor confidently said, "No, this is treatable". Although Jon would be on a chemo pump for the rest of his life, we were greatful for an outlook of up to 10 years to plan, process and love on our family. Over the next two months we traversed the ups and downs of life with a cancer diagnosis and started chemo at Dupage Central March 30. On March 31st we were told Jon had hours to live. Shock, fear, anger and saddness swirled with the realization that two months after some back pain we had to face the fact that our lives would be forever changed.
Jon was a devoted father of a family of six and mentor to many, and his sudden passing from cancer just two months after his diagnosis has left us reeling. As the sole provider, Jon worked tirelessly to ensure we were cared for and his absence has created a profound void, both emotionally and financially. We are now facing the daunting challenge of covering medical bills and basic living expenses while we grieve and try to find a path forward. The costs of prepping our house for Jon's never realized homecoming, multiple surgeries and end of life care are overwhelming. Your generosity will help us cover immediate needs like medical bills, groceries, and housing, giving us the space to process our loss and stabilize our financial situation for the next three to six months. Thank you for honoring Jon's memory and supporting our family as we navigate this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness and support mean more than words can express.
Jon believed deeply in the power of family and the importance of helping others. He once said, "when you are healing families and children and following God's will, the possibilities are limitless. Fix a family and find a child a home and let them go out into the world and make a difference." By supporting Jon's family during this time, you are helping to continue his mission and legacy of compassion and service.