Michael Francis Ahrens

Michael “Mike” Francis Ahrens, 53, of Bourbonnais, and formerly of Watseka, passed away unexpectedly at his home Wednesday, June 14, following a recent illness. He was born Sept. 24, 1963, in Watseka, the son of the late Francis and Karen Feller Ahrens. He married Tina (Immormino) Wojciechowski on July 11, 2001, in Kankakee. She survives, as does his mother, of Watseka. Also surviving are three sons and daughters-in-law, Nicholas (Melissa) Nink, of Dunwoody, Ga., Bobby (Megan) Wojciechowski, of Bourbonnais, and Steven (fiancee Brianna) Wojciechowski, of Roodhouse; two daughters, Marilynn Cebulski (Anthony “Booter” West), of Shorewood, and Samantha Nink (fiance Will Smith), of Mooresville, N.C.; one brother and sister-in-law, Timothy (Angelique), of Kankakee; as well as several nieces and nephews and a host of cousins. His seven grandchildren knew him as “Papa,” and he loved them all dearly, from Robby and Peyton, to James and Kathrynn, to Liam and Sylas, and his newest granddaughter Elloise. Papa lived to hold them and to love on them. He now looks down from above with a broad smile on his face. He also liked Harley Davidson motorcycles, gun shows, the Cubs and the Bears. His home could be seen from blocks away at Christmas, thanks to his exterior illumination skills. He enjoyed tending to his wife’s flowers, yard work and TV, but all those could easily be put on hold for his family, the people he always put first. He was employed for over 25 years at the Kmart Distribution Center in Manteno in a variety of positions, including the last several years as the traffic manager. History will show Mike passed away from a bad heart, but nothing could be further from the truth. His heart was anything but bad. Instead, it was extraordinarily good. He would drop everything to do something to help, even when his health was not the best. Preceding him in death were his father; one brother, Jeffery; both paternal and maternal grandparents; and his father and mother-in-law, Chuck and Millie Immormino. Several aunts and uncles and other family members also preceded him in death. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Monday at the Brown Funeral Home in Manteno and one hour before Tuesday’s 11 a.m. funeral service at the Westbrook Church of the Nazarene in Kankakee. The Rev. Gary Salm, one of Mike’s many cousins, will officiate. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery in Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made to the family to help defray the funeral expenses.

Michael Francis Ahrens

September 24, 1963 - June 14, 2017