Services Set For 'Dedicated Funeral Director' Wayne Schewe, 51

JOLIET, IL — Friends and family members will gather Friday and Saturday for the visitation and funeral Mass of Wayne Schewe Jr. The well-known Joliet area funeral director died Dec. 27 following complications from COVID-19, according to his obituary. He was 51.

"On November 21, 2021, Wayne and Shellie both tested positive for Covid-19,"states the GoFundMe called 'Support For Shellie Schewe.' "On the 27th of November, Wayne decided it was time to go to the hospital seeing as he was having trouble breathing and his chest hurt. His symptoms continued to worsen, and he was eventually ... put on a ventilator."

The GoFundMe aims to raise $25,000. After two days and 75 separate donations, the GoFundMe has raised $6,175. Wayne Schewe Jr. is survived by his wife Shellie (nee Borgra) and his three children.

"After 21 days of being in the hospital, Shellie was finally able to go to the hospital and see him. It was a hard sight and Shellie felt so helpless seeing him in that bed hooked up to so many machines that were trying to save his life. She spent every day at his bedside talking to him and praying for him," the GoFundMe noted.

Visitation for Wayne Schewe Jr. will be at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday. The funeral Mass will take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Ray's Cathedral.

Masks will be required to attend, according to Tezak Funeral Home.

Wayne Schewe Jr. attended St. Raymond's Grade School and graduated from Joliet Catholic. He was a former board member for Joliet Catholic Academy and the Center for Disability Services and helped his parents run the Crow's Nest Bar, according to his obituary.

"For 28 years, Wayne was a proud, dedicated funeral director and embalmer," the obituary stated. "After working for multiple funeral homes in the area, Wayne went on to accomplish his lifelong dream of owning his own Funeral and Cremation Service where he was able to serve families and honor their loved ones."

For more information, visit the "Support For Shellie Schewe" GoFundMe.