Gene Michael Taylor

Gene “Michael” Taylor, 54, passed away unexpectedly in his home on Friday, January 6, 2023. Mike was born December 1, 1968, in Sandusky, Ohio to Gene and Alka (Penix) Taylor. They moved to Illinois in 1969 and were lifelong residents of McHenry County. Mike graduated from Marengo Community High School in 1987. He met his wife, Jennifer Wickersheim, at Kmart in Woodstock in 1991 where they both worked.

He loved his family and was a man of great faith. He was baptized in February of 1979 and was known to sing in church with his brothers. Mike enjoyed travelling, whether it was to go up north to the cabin for a week of fishing and relaxation or attending his annual family reunion at Pokagon State Park in Angola, IN or riding the roller coasters at Mt. Olympus in the Dells with his kids. He loved music, movies, and taking drives. He cared deeply for his family and his nieces and nephews meant the world to me.

He married Jennifer in 1996 and they moved for a brief time to Walworth Co., WI where their children were born.

He is survived by his wife Jennifer, his children Cassandra (Mark) Matkin of Walworth, WI and Nicholas Taylor of Harvard, IL. He is also survived by his mother, Alka; his brothers Jeff (Carol) Taylor of Poplar Grove, IL and Rick (Jennifer) Taylor of Choctaw, OK; two uncles, Marvin (Sharon) Penix and Kenneth (Patty) Penix, father and mother-in-law William and Carol Wickersheim, brother-in-law Brian (Heather) Wickersheim, and sister-in-law Amanda (Robert) Dalessandro and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Gene Taylor, his grandparents Claude, Edna, and Neva Taylor and Tildan, Dosha, and Edna Penix, as well as many cousins, aunts, and uncles.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023, from 3:30 PM until the 6 PM service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1601 Garfield Rd., Harvard, IL 60033. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mike’s honor can be made in care of the family.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.saundersmcfarlin.net. Call Saunders & McFarlin for more info at 815-943-5400.

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