Obituary of Mark Rymer

Mark Christian Rymer, 34, passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, April 25, 2011. Mark was born March 7, 1977 in Waukegan, IL. He attended Zion Elementary Schools where his interests in sports and music were realized along with academic honors. Mark was a student of piano at Zion Conservatory Of Music throughout grade school and high school. At Zion-Benton Township High School (Z-B) he was a 3-sport athlete (golf, basketball, and baseball) and honed his musical skills which prepared him for a Northern Illinois University Music Education Major, graduating in 2000. While at Northern Illinois he was active in Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity. He was a music educator/band director at Lake Bluff Elementary School then became Director of Bands at Zion-Benton Township High School. In 2009 he earned his Masters Degree in Music Education at Vandercook School Of Music in Chicago. He was a charter member, officer, and musically involved in Zion's Full Score Orchestra as well as church music at First United Methodist Church of Waukegan in trumpet and vocal work. In 2005 he married the love of his life and Z-B German teacher Michelle Derer at the Church of St. Patrick in Wadsworth, after which they honeymooned in Italy. They both recently chaperoned a Z-B German student trip through Europe. Mark also enjoyed touring New York city with his Z-B band students. He was loved by and survived by his wife Michelle; two year old son Lukas Richard Rymer; parents Rick and Vicki Rymer; parents-in-law John and Noreen Derer of Michigan; brothers Matthew (Rebecca) and Michael (Amy) Rymer; his nana, Van Beem; brothers-in-law Matthew and Joseph Derer; nieces Madalyn Rachel, Jillian, Avery, and Lauren Rymer; beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and many other sweet family members, very special friends, colleagues, and highly revered students. Mark was preceded in death by his maternal grandpa Bernard H. Beem; paternal grandparents Howard and Josephine Rymer; cousin Heather Joy Buntrock; and uncle James B. Rymer. Visitation will be Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Waukegan, 128 N. Martin Luther King Avenue, Waukegan, IL. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 1st, at 3:00 p.m. also at First United Methodist Church with Pastor William Owen and Deacon Ed Tomkowiak of Church of St. Patrick officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. In lieu of flowers a beneficiary account has been opened in Zion for Lukas. Please make donations payable to Lukas Richard Rymer or Michelle Rymer. (Memorial donations may be sent c/o Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Road, Zion, IL 60099, to be forwarded to the family.)