Scott George Vowinkel

Scott grew up in a military family and lived in several different places, including Tokyo, Japan; Holyoke, Massachusetts; Tucson, Arizona; Mount Holly, New Jersey; Destin, Florida; and Mascoutah, Illinois. He graduated from Mascoutah Community High School in 1969 and then earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1974.

Upon graduation from college, Scott entered military service as a Second Lieutenant and was promoted to First Lieutenant in the 12th Engineer Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division in Dexheim, Germany. He served there for three years and then an additional year of active military service in Fort Stewart, Georgia, plus two years in the Army Reserves.

Scott proudly stated that he had one employer for his entire professional life: the U.S. Army. Upon completion of his active military service, Scott began working as a civilian for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi and later transferred to the Corps’ North Central Division in Chicago, IL. He completed his career in the Corps’ Chicago District, retiring in 2013. Over the course of his long career, he received numerous commendations and awards.

In his personal life, Scott was known for his love of his family and friends, his desire to serve God, his dependability, loyalty, passion, and precision. He and Julie were married for 50 years and recently celebrated that milestone at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

As a devoted father, Scott was proud to be a consistent presence in the lives of his children.  For two decades, week in and week out, he would make the long trek to the stables so that his daughter Becca could pursue her passion riding horses. Additionally, he shared countless hours biking beside her as they navigated their usual route.  Similarly, as his son Dan invested in the Cub Scouts, Scott played an active role leading trips and organizing activities, and he continued to support Dan by coaching his basketball team and attending all his tennis meets.  Scott also kept things light and fun with his children-- he was the prankster of the family, rarely missing an opportunity to engage in horseplay and other antics. Scott was thrilled when Christina joined the family through marriage to Dan in 2011.

Scott worshiped the Lord in several congregations during his adult life, including First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg, Mississippi; First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, Illinois; and The Orchard Evangelical Free Church of Arlington Heights, Illinois.

In his retirement years, he served on both the Media Team and the Maintenance Team at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church as well as the Administrative Team for Bible Study Fellowship International in Arlington Heights.

Scott also served 18 years on the Board of Directors for the Mount St. Joseph Association in Lake Zurich. His daughter Becca has resided at Mount St. Joseph, a residential facility for women with intellectual disabilities, since 2006.

Scott’s great passion was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He said he felt truly free when navigating backroads on his Harley. He belonged to two riding clubs: the HighRoad Riders and the McHenry HOG Chapter of Harley Davidson. At the time of his death, he had a full calendar of riding dates with his clubs and was planning a solo trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

He is survived by his wife Julie (née Hill) Vowinkel of Mount Prospect, Illinois; his son Daniel (Christina) Vowinkel of Maspeth, New York; his daughter Rebecca Vowinkel of Lake Zurich, Illinois; his sister Karen (Nelson) Hall of New Bern, North Carolina; his two brothers-in-law: James Hill of Chicago, Illinois and Peter Hill of Los Angeles, California; and his five nieces: Irene (Tim) Rice, of Dunn, North Carolina; Anne (Sam) Harris of Greenville, North Carolina; Suanna (Chris) McSorley of New Bern, North Carolina; Emily Hill (Patrick Grossi) of Oak Park, Illinois; and Abigail (Jared ) Heit of Broadlands, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Colonel Merlin J. and Mary Jane Vowinkel. Also preceding him in death were his paternal grandparents, George Vowinkel and Susanne Vowinkel; his maternal grandparents, Julius Stuemke and Emma Stuemke; and his maternal step grandmother, Hulda Stuemke.

Memorials in Scott’s name may be sent to Mount St. Joseph, 24955 N. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

“ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”