Jon Mark Wenger, 67, of Lostant, passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at his home.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, January 13 at Heritage Christian Center in Ottawa. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the church with Pastors Loren Larson and Mike Muzzerall of Family Worship Center, Baton Rouge, LA., officiating. A burial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 15 at Hollands Grove Cemetery in Washington, IL. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
Jon was born on May 23, 1956, in Peoria, IL, to Loyd and Sylvia Rose (Gresham) Wenger. On October 13, 2000, he married his beloved wife and partner Debra (Morrow) Wenger of Freeport, IL. who survives.
Jon was a 1974 graduate of Washington High School and attended Illinois Central College receiving a degree in Agricultural Technology. In 1979, he answered the call of God and was a youth Pastor for Faith Christian Center in Washington, IL. He moved to Ottawa in 1990 and was a Senior Pastor at Praise Center, Assemblies of God, for 10 years. In 2004, he was ordained with the World Evangelism Fellowship of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and founded Heritage Christian Center of Ottawa, IL. In 2006, he started Heritage Christian Center of The Greater Peoria Area. He had a gregarious smile and laugh and loved working hard, whether it was ministry or construction work. Most importantly, he was a born-again, spirit-filled, Christian who loved the Lord Jesus Christ above anything else.
He is survived by his wife, Debra; his children, Jonette (Greg) Russell, Jesse (Jessica) Wenger, and Josey Wenger; his bonus children, Nicole (Rick) McDaniel, Ashley (Tony) Gonzales, and Tyler (Carly) Smith; 17 grandchildren, Alexandria, Abigail, Gabriel, Garrett, and Gunner Russell, Kadesh, River, Nova, Jack, and Leela Wenger, Brandyne Cody, Alex Smith, Ethan Brown, Hunter, Molly, and Ashton Gonzales, and Henry Jonathan “Jon Henry” Smith; his siblings, Joe (Dianna) Wenger, Jeanie (Jim) Simpson, Jeff Wenger, Jacob (Wendy) Wenger, and Jamie Wenger; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one bonus son, Adam Smith.
Please consider a memorial donation to Heritage Christian Center or the Ottawa Christian Academy.
Pallbearers will be Richard Barnett, Nathan Farley, Tony Gonzales, Dean Kirkton, Shane McGeorge, Brian Morris, and Greg Russell.
Seals-Campbell Funeral Home
1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341 815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com