John K. Wilen II
Obituary's Biography:
John K. Wilen II, 68, a resident of Grayslake, IL formally of Glenview IL, passed away March 18, 2025 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, IL. He was born December 26, 1956, in Evanston, IL to John K. Wilen Jr. and Mary Wilen (prev. Miller nee DeRoque).
After going to art school, he was hired by a small exhibit company in Chicago. Four years later, he and 3 others formed Dimension Works, Inc. It became one of the largest privately owned exhibit companies in the United States. He expanded Dimension Works’ reach to Europe and Brazil. Dimension Works was represented at the industry’s Las Vegas trade shows for many years
John was an avid motorcyclist for most of his adult life. In 1981, he and Debbie bought a BMW motorcycle in Munich and toured all over Europe spending 3 weeks on the road. He also traveled around the US, including Alaska, with other motorcycle enthusiasts.
His next passion was scuba diving, which he did in oceans and seas around the world. He loved seeing all the big fish like hammerhead sharks and barracuda, videotaping everything along the way. Many of the places he dove were Cozumel, Curacao, Belize, Coco Islands and Thailand. He and Debbie went on a few dive trips together and then included their children. John and Jenna enjoyed a wonderful dive trip to Papua New Guinea.
He loved to snow ski, too. The family started skiing at Chestnut Mountain in Galena, IL, then continued on to the big mountains of Colorado; Breckridge, Keystone and Vail. The whole family enjoyed skiing together. A highlight of his life was skiing with his children in St Moritz, Switzerland in 2002.
The family traveled to Disney World many times as Debbie convinced John it was “the happiest place on earth!”. John and Debbie had many other vacations including cruises to the Caribbean, and Alaska. For their 30th anniversary, they enjoyed a vacation in Hawaii. And for their 40th, they took a cruise along the Danube River.
He and Debbie enjoyed curling for many years. John became very accomplished. He participated in many Bonspiels in different cities, winning many along the way.
After operating Dimension Works for more than 20 years, he and his partners sold the company. John was then able to start his own art business. He traveled the art show circuit for many years selling his scratchboard art. His schedule was grueling as he was at an art show every weekend from April to October. But he was awarded over and over again for his amazing artwork.
He decided to stop selling his art, stay home and pursue another enterprise. He and Debbie bought a frame store. This way, he could continue being creative while putting his business skills to work, and work with his wife. After 8 years, they decided it was time to retire.
They had hoped to travel to all the other places in the world they hadn’t been to yet but due to health issues they were unable. He then took advantage of being homebond and spent time with his grandkids and family. He was so loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
John is survived by his wife Debbie Heinrich Wilen, his children Jennifer (Michael) Rosenstein and Matthew (Jillian) Wilen, his grandchildren Lucas Wilen, Kenli Wilen, and Theodore Rosenstein, his siblings Jan Wilen and Scott (Carol) Wilen, his nieces and nephews Daniel Maresca, Justine (Mike) Stonebridge, Michael (Hailey) Wilen, and Casey (Christina) Wilen, and many great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his father John K. Wilen Jr., his mother Mary Miller, and his step-father George Miller.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Huntington’s Disease Society of America. All funeral arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. For more information log onto www.strangfuneral.org or contact (847)223-8122.