Army Staff Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr. funeral: Community mourns fallen U.S. soldier
The Brief
The Joliet community honored Army Staff Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr. with a funeral service Friday morning at Word of Life Church in Crest Hill.
Dueñez, 25, died during a mission in Lithuania last month alongside three fellow soldiers when their vehicle was found submerged in a marsh.
A procession earlier this week brought his body home, where family, friends, and residents gathered to pay their respects.
CREST HILL, Ill. - People gathered Friday morning to say a final goodbye to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr., a local soldier who died during a mission in Lithuania last month.
The backstory
Dueñez, 25, was one of four American soldiers killed on March 25 while conducting a recovery operation involving an M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle. The vehicle was later found submerged in a peat bog near Pabradė, Lithuania. Dueñez was assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.
The funeral service took place at 11 a.m. at Word of Life Church, 1500 Cedarwood Drive in Crest Hill.
The service follows an emotional return earlier this week, when Dueñez's flag-draped casket arrived at Lewis University Airport in Romeoville and was escorted by a police-led procession to Tezak's Funeral Home in Joliet.
Loved ones and community members lined the streets, many waving American flags and holding signs, as the procession passed. Dueñez, remembered as a dedicated soldier and quiet leader, served in the Army for more than seven years and was previously deployed to Poland and Germany. He leaves behind a wife, a 1-year-old son, his parents, and five siblings.
"As both a leader and a Soldier, he set an example every day—always the first to arrive and the last to leave, greeting every challenge with a smile and a readiness to support anyone who required assistance," said Capt. Madyson K. Wellens, Diesel Forward Support Troop commander, 5th Sqn., 7th Cav. Regt. "He was the definition of a silent professional."
Duenez, a Joliet native, would have celebrated his 26th birthday on April 8.
The Source
The information in this report comes from Tezak's Home to Celebrate Life and previous FOX 32 reporting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Two Chinese nationals charged with conspiracy, smuggling ‘dangerous biological pathogen' into US
Two Chinese citizens were charged with a conspiracy and smuggling of a fungus that officials said is a 'dangerous biological pathogen' into the United States. Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, were charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the country, false statements and visa fraud on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. Jian was arrested by the FBI on allegations that Jian and Liu smuggled a fungus into the country called Fusarium graminearum, which U.S. officials said scientific literature classified as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon.' The fungus causes disease in barley, wheat, rice, and maize and is responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses around the world, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The toxins from the fungus cause liver damage, vomiting and reproductive defects in both livestock and humans. Jian allegedly received funding from the Chinese government to research the pathogen in China, and her electronics had information showing her 'membership in and loyalty' to the Chinese Communist Party, according to the complaint The complaint also alleged that Liu works at a Chinese university where he researches the pathogen and that he initially lied but later admitted to smuggling the fungus through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport so that he could keep researching the pathogen at a laboratory at the University of Michigan, the school Jian, his girlfriend, works at. 'These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety,' said Cheyvoryea Gibson, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office. Jian appeared in federal court in Detroit on Tuesday. 'This case is a sobering reminder that the CCP is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences… putting American lives and our economy at serious risk,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a Tuesday statement on social media platform X. A University of Michigan student, Haoxiang Gao, who is a Chinese national, was charged with illegally voting in the U.S., according to a complaint unsealed on Friday.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Manhunt underway for illegal immigrant wanted in serious Nashville hit-and-run
Law enforcement officials are seeking the public's help to find an illegal immigrant who is believed to be involved in a serious hit-and-run incident last month in Nashville. Detectives said Tony Lopez-Infante, 32, of Venezuela, is wanted for the May 18 crash that seriously injured Zach Carach, 21, of Florida. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to WZTV that Lopez-Infante entered the US in August 2023. ICE also confirmed to Fox News Digital that Lopez-Infante "is in the county illegally and has a final order of removal." University Of South Carolina Student, 21, Killed In Hit-and-run Crash Involving Illegal Immigrant: Dhs "MNPD detectives are working to locate Tony Lopez-Infante, 32, of Venezuela, after warrants were obtained against him for the May 18 hit & run crash on Church St that injured Zach Carach, 21, of FL," police wrote in a post on X. "Know where he is? Please call 615-742-7463. Reward offered." Read On The Fox News App Police told the outlet that Carach was celebrating his 21st birthday when he was struck by Lopez-Infante's car. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., shared that his office had obtained the "disturbing video that reportedly captured the crash" and is demanding justice for Carach. "While celebrating his 21st birthday, Zach Carach was allegedly struck by a vehicle driven by Tony Lopez — who then fled the scene. Lopez is an illegal alien with six outstanding warrants. He was last seen in Mt. Juliet — in my district," Ogles wrote in a post on his Facebook page. Three Illegal Immigrants Charged After Fiery Texas Crash Leaves One Dead Police said the vehicle involved in the collision, a Mitsubishi Mirage, was returned by Lopez-Infante, with front-end damage, to a rental facility in Mt. Juliet on May 19. "Officers located the car there the next day, on May 20. Investigation resulted in Lopez-Infante, of Venezuela, being identified as the hit-and-run driver," police said. Illegal Immigrant Accused Of Shooting At Small-town Officer In High-speed Chase Faces Possible Deportation Law enforcement officials added that ongoing efforts to locate Lopez-Infante have been unsuccessful, noting that federal partners, including Homeland Security Investigations, are assisting in the search. Once captured, police said Lopez-Infante will be charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, failure to render aid/file an accident report, attempted evidence tampering, and driving without a license/insurance. Officials noted he is also wanted in Williamson County on "an outstanding probation violation warrant related to a theft arrest." Carach's mom, Sheena Carach, shared with Fox News Digital that her son is on day 16 in the hospital and is fully wheelchair bound for the next two months, pleading for answers about how Lopez-Infante was in the country. "I appeal to the American people to help us find TONY GEBIAN LOPEZ INFANTE (Tony Lopez), he hit our son on 5/18 in Nashville and fled… he fled the scene, packed his belongings, tried to bribe a mechanic to repair the car and then was picked up in a gold 05 Toyota Corolla, TN plates," Sheena Carach wrote in post on her Facebook page. Anyone with information on Lopez-Infante's whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at article source: Manhunt underway for illegal immigrant wanted in serious Nashville hit-and-run
2 hours ago
Authorities are searching for a Washington state father of 3 dead girls
A man in central Washington state is wanted on suspicion of murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead. Authorities asked the public Tuesday for help finding Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, according to police in Wenatchee, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Seattle. Police said it was unknown whether Decker, a former Army soldier with 'extensive training,' was armed. On Friday the mother of the girls, ages 9, 8 and 5, reported that their father did not return them after a planned visit, police said. Over the weekend authorities looked for the children and for Decker, who was believed to be living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup with Washington plates. Police said Decker's unoccupied truck was found Monday near a campground west of the city of Leavenworth, which is about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Wenatchee. Officers found the girls' bodies during a search. Anyone who may have seen Decker since Friday or knows his current location was asked to call 911. 'Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,' police said. The Wenatchee School District said the girls were students of Lincoln Elementary. Counseling services were available, and the district asked people to respect the privacy of students, staff members and families and come to the campus only for regular school business. The mother told police that Decker picked the girls up around 5 p.m. but had not returned them by 8 p.m., and his phone went straight to voicemail, according to a probable cause affidavit written by a Wenatchee police detective, The Seattle Times reported. The detective said she 'expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and … is currently experiencing some mental health issues.' 'What prompted her to call us was that ... he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary,' Capt. Brian Chance said. Washington State Patrol was contacted Friday night to request an Amber Alert, but it did not meet the required criteria, Wenatchee police said. The following day Wanatchee detectives contacted the patrol with additional information that led to the issuance of an Endangered Missing Person Alert. The lacking criteria was suspected abduction and imminent peril of death or serious injury, said Chris Loftis, director of public affairs for the state patrol. 'In this case, it was a parent with custodial privileges, and the children had not been returned home on time. But that's a rather common occurrence and not something where you just automatically assume abduction,' he said, adding that there was no indication Decker, a custodial parent who had the children for a visit, would harm them. "We're people too, you know, so the loss of a child, the loss of two children, the loss of three children is ... devastating," Loftis said. 'Everybody always looks to how we can improve.' The alert systems are constantly evolving and this could prompt further change, Loftis said: 'Obviously it didn't work this time. Obviously we have three children that are dead.' Decker and the girls' mother are divorced, Chance said. He did not have details on how the girls were killed or on Decker's employment. Decker joined the Army in 2013 and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 2021, Washington Military Department spokesperson Karina Shagren told The Associated Press. He was a full-time member of the Guard until 2023 or 2024, when he switched to part-time. Decker stopped attending mandatory monthly drills a little over a year ago, and the Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge for him, Shagren said. 'This is an absolute tragedy,' Shagren said. 'We are mourning along with the community.' The Chelan County Sheriff's Office, which found the truck, was leading the search in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest area while other teams followed up on 'potential credible information and tips' regarding Decker's location, the agency said in a statement. The agency was working with U.S. Marshals to locate and apprehend Decker. A reward of up to $20,000 was available for information leading directly to his arrest.
