Gordon Dean "Gordy" Shogren Jr. 1973 - 2025

Gordon Dean "Gordy" Shogren, Jr., age 52, of Fox Lake, Illinois, passed away on August 21, 2025, at St Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. Born on March 28, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois, Gordy lived a life marked by compassion, humor, and unwavering generosity.

A devoted husband and father, Gordy is lovingly remembered by his wife Lauren Shogren; his children Carter Shogren, Avery Shogren, Abigail (Elijah) Goodwin, Faith Sobyra, Lillian Sobyra, and Caleb Chrzanowski; his mother Kathleen (Diehl) Harju; sisters Christine Bolz-Hott, Jennifer Fera, and Anessa Kaul; and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his father Gordon Shogren, Sr., and his stepfather William Harju.

Gordy was a Christ-follower who lived out his faith through everyday acts of kindness. Whether pulling over to help a stranger on the side of the road or offering the shirt off his back to someone in need, he embodied the love and compassion that he believed Jesus had for all people. His actions spoke volumes about the depth of his character and the sincerity of his beliefs.

Known for his sharp wit and smart aleck remarks-often delivered with a twinkle in his eye-Gordy brought laughter wherever he went. His sarcasm was legendary among those who knew him best, but it was always paired with a warm heart and an open hand.

Gordy found joy in simple pleasures and shared them generously with others. He enjoyed playing card and board games-especially cribbage and Monopoly-and could often be found immersed in role-playing games, enjoying sports, or at the pool table. While he loved to teach his children how to play games, he reveled in beating them at those games even more. He shared his love for golf and disc golf with Carter and his obsession with estate sales and thrift stores with Abby. Gordy was his children's biggest cheerleader, and he attended every game, match, concert, and performance he could, even if it meant watching on his phone. One of his favorite pastimes was attending rock concerts with Lauren; music brought them closer together and created cherished memories they carried throughout their marriage.

Gordy was also a huge movie fan, from classic westerns to superhero movies to action and yes, even sappy rom coms. He enjoyed seeing movies with his family, but his favorite thing was to see movies with his movie group. Meeting at the theater, ranking movies, and discussing their rankings was a treasured pastime.

Gordy grew up in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, where he attended Zion-Benton High School. He then attended Taylor University, Mississippi State University, and Christian Brothers University. He worked at the Zion Park District and Windyke Country Club in Memphis, TN before working at Abbott Laboratories. After the passing of his father in 2014, Gordy took over his business, Stateline Storage, with his friend and business partner Steve Hollister.

In 2017, Gordy received a second chance at life through a kidney and pancreas transplant-a gift that extended not only his years but also deepened his gratitude for every moment. In honor of this life-changing gift, donations may be made to his Donate Life America fundraiser at https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6586418.

Gordy's legacy lives on through the lives he touched with kindness, laughter, and love. May his memory bring comfort to all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held on September 6, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Johnny'z Pour House 10936 Sheridan Rd, Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin. There will be a Memorial service followed by open-ended time to share stories and honor the amazing man that Gordy was.

His mother and sisters have also planned a service at Grace Missionary Church 1415 27th St. Zion, IL. at 4pm with time beforehand to greet them.