1946
Lynette
2025
Lynette Rehnberg
January 15, 1946 — May 14, 2025
Lynette Ann "Lynn" Rehnberg passed away on May 14, 2025, at UW SwedishAmerican Hospital after a brief final illness following a long period of declining health. She was born on January 15, 1946, and adopted by Violet and Paul Rehnberg of Rockford. She had mild cerebral palsy and credited her mother with helping her develop the inner strength that allowed her to live with courage and fortitude. She said that when she would fall as a child, her mother would ask, "Is there any blood?" If the answer was "No," her mother would say, "Well, when you get up and come in here, I have a hug for you."
Lynn graduated from East High School and earned her bachelor's degree in social service from Trinity College (now Trinity University) in 1968. Over the course of her 39-year career, she worked for many social services agencies, among them the Department of Children and Family Services, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, United Cerebral Palsy, Barbara Olsen Center of Hope, the Epilepsy Foundation, and RAMP before retiring in 2008. At the Center of Hope, she is still remembered for organizing a camp for individuals with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. She said that "her guys" deserved to go to camp just like anyone else and worked with parents and other staff to give them that experience. Over the years, she received countless letters of thanks and praise from people she served in her various positions. She would often run into former clients, their parents, or former co-workers who would remark on how she had changed their lives. She was one of the rare people who, even after a decades-long career in a helping profession, never fell prey to "compassion fatigue". She loved her clients, and they knew it.
Lynn loved good music and enjoyed attending concerts of both locally known and internationally famous entertainers. Her favorite band was Rockford's own Trinadora with Ron Holm and Janel Nelson, and she attended every one of their concerts that she could. After moving to Greencastle on Mulford in 2023, she arranged for Ron and Janel to perform there, adding to their fan base. Last December, she spent several weeks in the hospital and rehab but was adamant that she wanted to be back at Greencastle by New Year's Eve because Trinadora was doing a special concert there that afternoon.
Among Lynn's other loves were cookies, red velvet cake, poached eggs on toast, and her mother's special recipe of "hamburger gravy". She enjoyed going for drives through Rock Cut State Park and seeing the Christmas lights at Sinnissippi Park. She was a lifelong Chicago Bears fan and good-naturedly teased Green Bay Packers fans about their misguided loyalties. Most recently, she became a fan of professional basketball player Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, and appreciated the positive impact that Clark was having on the WNBA.
A longtime member of Spring Creek United Church of Christ, Lynn sang in the choir for a number of years and was involved in different ministries of care. As her health and mobility declined, she embraced a ministry of sending cards to parishioners for their birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions. She kept a stash of hundreds of blank cards that she would go through to select the perfect one for a particular person, and then she would pray for that person before she wrote a special message to them.
Lynn leaves behind a brother Robert (Barbara) and niece Beth Pasch (Mike), as well as many loving and devoted friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Spring Creek United Church of Christ. Memorial gifts may be made to Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Rd., Rockford, IL 61114. Stateline Cremations is assisting the family, 6204 Forest Hills Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111. www.statelinecremations.com
Lynn graduated from East High School and earned her bachelor's degree in social service from Trinity College (now Trinity University) in 1968. Over the course of her 39-year career, she worked for many social services agencies, among them the Department of Children and Family Services, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, United Cerebral Palsy, Barbara Olsen Center of Hope, the Epilepsy Foundation, and RAMP before retiring in 2008. At the Center of Hope, she is still remembered for organizing a camp for individuals with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. She said that "her guys" deserved to go to camp just like anyone else and worked with parents and other staff to give them that experience. Over the years, she received countless letters of thanks and praise from people she served in her various positions. She would often run into former clients, their parents, or former co-workers who would remark on how she had changed their lives. She was one of the rare people who, even after a decades-long career in a helping profession, never fell prey to "compassion fatigue". She loved her clients, and they knew it.
Lynn loved good music and enjoyed attending concerts of both locally known and internationally famous entertainers. Her favorite band was Rockford's own Trinadora with Ron Holm and Janel Nelson, and she attended every one of their concerts that she could. After moving to Greencastle on Mulford in 2023, she arranged for Ron and Janel to perform there, adding to their fan base. Last December, she spent several weeks in the hospital and rehab but was adamant that she wanted to be back at Greencastle by New Year's Eve because Trinadora was doing a special concert there that afternoon.
Among Lynn's other loves were cookies, red velvet cake, poached eggs on toast, and her mother's special recipe of "hamburger gravy". She enjoyed going for drives through Rock Cut State Park and seeing the Christmas lights at Sinnissippi Park. She was a lifelong Chicago Bears fan and good-naturedly teased Green Bay Packers fans about their misguided loyalties. Most recently, she became a fan of professional basketball player Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, and appreciated the positive impact that Clark was having on the WNBA.
A longtime member of Spring Creek United Church of Christ, Lynn sang in the choir for a number of years and was involved in different ministries of care. As her health and mobility declined, she embraced a ministry of sending cards to parishioners for their birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions. She kept a stash of hundreds of blank cards that she would go through to select the perfect one for a particular person, and then she would pray for that person before she wrote a special message to them.
Lynn leaves behind a brother Robert (Barbara) and niece Beth Pasch (Mike), as well as many loving and devoted friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Spring Creek United Church of Christ. Memorial gifts may be made to Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Rd., Rockford, IL 61114. Stateline Cremations is assisting the family, 6204 Forest Hills Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111. www.statelinecremations.com
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