Vernon John Rubenic, 54, formerly of Forest Park, died on Sept. 9, 2016.
Born in Oak Park on Oct. 27, 1961, he was the only son of John Phillip Rubenic and Marilyn Joyce Meuhlenhaupt. The family began their time together at 1020 Troost Ave. in Forest Park.
He attended St. John Lutheran Grammar School and loved Cub Scouts, but his true love was drumming, which he began at an early age. His first two years of high school were at Proviso East High School before moving to Wheaton with his mother and stepfather, Bernard Pinzur.
He joined the Navy in 1980 and was stationed in San Diego. He spent time in the Mediterranean, completed two tours of duty in Beirut, participated in the invasion of Grenada, and was an instructor at Great Lakes Naval Academy. He received the Humanitarian Service Medal, two Good Conduct awards, two Navy Unit commendations, recognition for two Sea Service Deployments, two Navy Expeditionary Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and a commendation from the Commander of the Sixth Fleet.
Honorably discharged on April 16, 1988, he pursued higher education in digital computer systems and, during the next 30 years, he became an expert in the field and started his own business, Core Technology Services.
He married Cheryl Erickson on Feb. 2, 1985 and his first child, Alexander James Rubenic, was born in 1986. His second marriage was on Oct. 27, 1990 to Shelly Ann Sweet and together they had two daughters, Elisabeth Renee and Lydia Irene. The family resided in Wheaton from 1990 until moving to Oswego in 2000.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Phillip Rubenic and his aunt, JoAnn Wienberg, both of Forest Park.
Visitation was held on Sept. 18 at Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory in Oswego, followed by funeral services on Sept. 19.
The family appreciates memorial donations in his honor to the Science Building Fund at Wheaton Academy, 900 Prince Crossing Road, West Chicago 60185 and marked “Attention: Head of School – Gene Frost.”
