Jon P Wooton

Jon Paul Wooton, 51, of Richton Park, IL, passed away peacefully at home on October 1, 2024. Jon was born on December 7, 1972, to Paul and Barbara Wooton. He had an adult brother Harvey, whom he did not get to meet in this lifetime, and had a bond with older brother Jim, sister Lisa and later, a stepbrother Rob. Through these siblings and a couple of best friends, Jon had 9 nieces. He was close to both parents all their life and took care of them until they each passed away from cancer. Jon grew up in a small-town next door to his maternal grandparents and always had family around. Many summer days and nights were spent on the Kankakee River with the paternal side of the family. He loved to fish and bike ride with older cousins. Jon Jon (as he was called) loved animals and had many while growing up, including a bird that lived over 20 years and, most recently, his beloved dog, Milo. Jon met his future wife and best friend, Theresa, in 2004. They were married in 2013. Together they enjoyed festivals, carnivals and live music bands - especially Five Guys Named Moe. In fact, their first date was at a Moe show. They also enjoyed listening to brother Jim sing and play bass guitar in various bands. Jon liked a range of music from old country to hard rock to the blues. Jon and Theresa loved spending time with friends and family, loved sitting around a bonfire. Their favorite vacation spot was where they went on their honeymoon: Gatlinburg, Tennessee. One of Jon's most memorable experiences in recent years was when his brother Harvey's family found him on social media. He was excited to meet his niece, Bonniejean, and other family members in person for the first time ever. Sadly, Harvey had passed away years earlier. Jon was blessed with a kidney transplant in 2008, which lasted 15 years. In 2023, with end-stage renal failure and diabetes, his health began to decline rapidly. He was on dialysis 11 hours per day. He endured amputations of his toes, fingers and, recently, one leg above the knee. He could barely heal from one surgery before he had another. Special thanks to Tom and Mary, who helped care for Jon over the past four months after Jon lost his leg. Jon is survived by his wonderful wife, Theresa, who has been by Jon's side through all of life's ups and downs. Although married for just 11 years, they were together for 20 years. They were truly best friends and partners. Theresa was Jon's #1 caretaker, and she wouldn't have had it any other way. Jon also leaves behind other family and friends who loved him, including nieces, Lilly Kay, Mary, Megan, Sam, Angelina, Danielle, Bonniejean, Char and his wife's niece, Angelina. Jon will truly be missed, even as he is reunited in Heaven with those loved ones who have gone before us and made whole again. A celebration of Jon's life will held in the spring of 2025. Memorial donations can be sent to Theresa Wooton, American Diabetes Association, or Gift of Hope.