Loved ones remember 'funny,' 'challenged' Schaumburg man

Michael Q. Bell, who died in a car crash in Schaumburg Monday night, was remembered as a young father who loved to laugh and was still working to overcome a troubled past.

Bell is the son of Nena Bell, a minister at Destiny Church in Hoffman Estates. He's also the father of a 16-month-old girl whose twin sister was stillborn, his mother said.

Schaumburg police are still mulling charges against the 24-year-old Streamwood woman who was behind the wheel when her car struck a tree, killing Bell, who was in the passenger seat.

Bell, 26, died after being taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.

His mother said he'd been dividing his time lately between Schaumburg and Indianapolis, where he was helping raise his 16-month-old daughter Kairi Rain, and a nearly 3-year-old stepson, Terone Sylvestre, with the children's mother.

Nena Bell added that her son shared her own faith in and love for God.

"Mike loved God and he wanted to share God with his friends," Nena said. "People always tell me he was funny, too. He loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh."

Bishop Keith Russell Lee of Destiny Church said that when he moved to the area 13 years ago, Michael Bell was one of the first kids to join his youth group.

"I saw him grow up from his preteen years to today," Lee said. "He was a young man who was challenged in many ways, but I believe he had a good heart and tried to do the right thing. What was striking to me was that he always came to church."

Bell had had run-ins with the law, including being imprisoned for a 2004 conviction of aggravated criminal sexual assault, armed robbery, kidnapping and aggravated battery.

In 2002, he'd also been ordered to a mental health facility in Elgin after being found not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of aggravated battery against a police officer.

But he was in the process of getting his life back together and was preparing to go into carpentry, his mother said. He felt this was a noble profession as it was the same Jesus undertook, she added.

"He always said, 'Mom, we can overcome this,'" Nena Bell said.

Lee marveled at the strong support Michael Bell always received from his mother, who will be ordained at Destiny Church next month.

"She never gave up on her son," Lee said. "He was the eternal optimist, I'd say. Even if he got some things wrong, he always felt he could turn things around and get another opportunity."

Funeral and visitation arrangements were still pending Wednesday.