Algonquin man brought home soldiers in style

Jon Dreymann was the glue that held the Illinois Warriors' Watch riders together, his fellow riders said.

Almost a year ago, the Algonquin man founded the chapter, based on his belief that all veterans deserve a special welcome home. Group members use their motorcycles and American flags to escort servicemen and women back to their homes.

"His one line was, 'Let's make them feel like rock stars,'" said Lisa Moran, regional coordinator of the group's Northern Illinois District.

Dreymann, affectionately known as Jon D., died Thursday after his motorcycle crashed in Indiana.

The 47-year-old was on his way to visit family and friends in upstate New York, said his longtime girlfriend Yvette Cano.

Jon D. oversaw the Warriors' Watch operations as its regional coordinator in Illinois, Indiana and Mississippi.

Robert Smith, regional coordinator of the group's mountain state district, said Jon D. was one of those exceptional people you only meet once or twice in a lifetime.

"With Jon, it's hard to come down to one or two or even three ... things about him," Smith said

Dreymann identified with the men and women in the military because he had once been one of them.

From 1980 to 1984, he was in the U.S. Army, stationed in North Carolina and Germany, Cano said.

Under Dreymann's efforts, the Illinois Warriors' Watch flourished and counts more than 360 members among its ranks.

Whenever there were conflicts among members, Dreymann was the peacemaker.

He also kept in constant contact with his fellow members and was known for sending daily text messages at 5 a.m.

"It was very strange when I looked at my phone this morning and didn't see a message from him," Moran said.

Dreymann is survived by his twins, Joshua and Jessica, both 21, his girlfriend, father Shlomo, stepmother Mary, sisters Bonnie Wilson and Sharona Dreymann and girlfriend Yvette Cano.

Services were held Sunday.