Warrenville seventh-grader loses fight with heart disease

Jeremy Strobeck battled muscular dystrophy his entire life.

But even with the challenges he faced daily, the 14-year-old Warrenville teen always was a positive spirit to be around, family members said.

"He was happy, was giving, was a joy to be with, had a heart for people, was fun, loved jokes, was a good friend and a wonderful son," said his aunt, Beth Ellis of Wheaton.

Jeremy died Monday from congestive heart failure.

"We're devastated," Ellis said Tuesday. "But we know he's in heaven with Jesus, and he can run again."

Jeremy was diagnosed with duchennes muscular dystrophy at birth. At the age of 11 his conditions worsened and he was permanently placed in a wheelchair.

The Wheaton Christian Grammar School seventh-grader's hobbies included LEGOs, comic books and video games.

"He was a video game king," his mother, Jean, said Tuesday. "He could beat anyone in any video game."

Jeremy is survived by his mother; father, Melvin Jackson of Warrenville; brother, Zachary Strobeck of Warrenville; sister, Rosemary Brown of California; and his maternal grandparents, Charles and Janet Strobeck of Wheaton.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton. A memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday at College Church, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton.

Memorials may be made to Wheaton Christian Grammar School or the Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy Study.