Kevin Michael Reusch

Kevin Michael Reusch, 65, of Savanna, Illinois, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 2, 2026. Though his family wishes he could have had many more years with them, there is comfort in knowing he left this world in the very way he always hoped; quietly, gently, and at peace. A funeral Mass will be held Thursday, April 9, at 10:30 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Savanna.  Visitation will take place at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Savanna, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, as well as from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday, prior to Mass. 

Kevin was born on September 12, 1960, in Savanna, the son of Louis and Darlene (Turner) Reusch. He graduated from Savanna High School with the Class of 1979 and later earned his HVAC degree from Highland Community College.

Kevin married Margaret Fowler, and together they raised two sons, Brennan and Patrick. On February 22, 2020, he married Leilani Strauch at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Carroll, beginning a new final chapter.

Throughout his life, Kevin worked with skill, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility. He served as head of maintenance at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home, in Mt. Carroll, before founding Reusch Refrigeration, which he operated for ten years. He later joined Interstate Power Company, where his problem‑solving abilities and technical expertise were invaluable.

Kevin was also a proud and longtime member of the Savanna Fire Department, serving since 1993 and holding the rank of Captain for more than twenty years. His commitment and willingness to help anyone in need earned him the respect and affection of his fellow firefighters and his community.

Those who knew Kevin will remember his sharp wit and sense of humor; traits that earned him the unforgettable nickname “Chicken Head.” He had a gift for making people laugh, often with a perfectly timed comment or a mischievous grin. Beneath the humor was a deeply kind man who found genuine joy in helping others. Kevin was a natural problem solver; he took pride in finding solutions to any task, whether it benefited him or someone else. Helping was simply part of who he was.

Kevin loved the outdoors. He enjoyed deer hunting, waterfowl hunting, and camping. One of his proudest accomplishments was the private family campground he built on his land outside Mt. Carroll, complete with a pavilion, showers, and a pond. It became a gathering place for family and friends, a reflection of his creativity, his craftsmanship, and his desire to bring people together.

He was also a collector of eBay “treasures,” each one chosen because it sparked his imagination. Some finds were put to immediate use, solving problems or improving a project. Others sat for years simply because he thought they were cool; and, as he would say, who wouldn’t think a grappling hook was cool? Kevin loved “projects,” and he had a rare talent for seeing not just what something was, but what it could become. He was, at heart, a dreamer.

Above all, Kevin was a family man. His loved ones were the center of his world, and he poured his intelligence, humor, and generosity into every relationship, family and friends, alike.

Kevin will be dearly missed by his wife, Loni; sons, Brennan Reusch, of Savanna, and Patrick (MJ) Reusch, of Severn, MD; step-sons, Richard (Caitlin) Holm, of Mt. Carroll, and Joshua Strauch, of Mt. Carroll; grandchildren, Payton and Hunter; brothers, Randy (Norma) Reusch, of Elburn, IL, and Brian Reusch, of Savanna, IL; nephew, Cody (Sember) Reusch; great-niece and great-nephew, Hayden and Everett; several cousins including, Brenda Lambert, Brad Lambert, and Chance Fornshell; and many close lifelong friends. Kevin is preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Darlene.