Julian Wuylens Jr.

Julian "Junior" Wuylens, 75, of Ottawa passed away Friday, October 7, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011 at St. Francis of Assisi Church with Rev. Jules Adator and Rev. Michael Adrie officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 22 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery with Military Services. Junior was born in 1936 in Ottawa, Illinois to Julian and Frances (Burisch) Wuylens. He was the last living member of the Wuylens family in the United States. His father and uncle ages 9 and 11 immigrated from Belgium in 1914; they found their way to Illinois with the help of Raymond De Smet of Sandwich, Illinois. He was a 1949 graduate of Ottawa Township High School. He served in the United States Navy in 1954. He was a hard working career employee of Libby Owens Ford Company. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church and a devoted Catholic. Junior was an avid gardener and is especially known for his roses and tomato plants. He will be remembered by the community for his friendly greetings as he rode his bicycle through town. He will be especially missed by Austin, Ben, and Dakota. Julian was the beloved uncle to Jerome Madden, Theodore Madden, Karen Beem, Kathleen Bernardy, and David Madden. He is the fond great-uncle to Nathan Madden, Joanna (Kevin) Madden Arnold, Jeff (Kathryn) Holderness, Anne (Bill) Palermo Shaeffer, Jason Holderness, Derek Madden, Meredith Madden, Jennifer Beem, Jack Bernardy, Conner Madden, and Quinn Madden, and his cousin, Roger Cottingham. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Dorothy (Wayne) Madden; and his great-niece, Jeannie Palermo.