Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Illinois Disaster Relief volunteer remembered by friends as caring, kind

  • May 24, 2023
  • Illinois Baptist State Association
  • Disaster Relief, Illinois, Latest News
Wayne and Bev Laechelt were featured in a promotional video for the Baptist Foundation of Illinois’s Life Stewardship Program in 2017. Wayne, 67, died May 9 tragically from injuries sustained from a falling tree that he and another worker were removing from the property at Streator Baptist Camp.
(Photo courtesy of IBSA Newsjournal)

Illinois Disaster Relief volunteer remembered by friends as caring, kind

It was a sea of yellow shirts at the funeral for Wayne Laechelt as Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers recently gathered at Crosspointe Church in Oswego to honor their friend.

Laechelt, 67, died May 9 tragically from injuries sustained from a falling tree that he and a co-worker were removing from the property at Streator Baptist Camp.

Laechelt was known for his love for the ministry that became his passion in retirement.

“Wayne and Bev are among the best examples I can name of Disaster Relief volunteers, representing Illinois and Christ well in every situation,” said Shannon Ford, Illinois Baptist State Association missions director. “Wayne was always making certain that flood recovery, or tornado recovery, or work at Incident Command led to conversations about Christ. He told all the volunteers, ‘That’s why we do this.’”

Laechelt served on the IBDR executive leadership team. Since 2012, he had completed 10 training modules, including chaplaincy. And as a former high school teacher, he turned his gifts toward training new Disaster Relief volunteers.

“Wayne was an articulate teacher who stressed correct methods and procedures without being too technical or overbearing,” said Arnold Ramage, state Disaster Relief director. “If a volunteer had questions, he would always answer them in kind and caring manner.”

One standout moment was his service after a mass shooting at the Independence Day parade in Highland Park in 2022.

Devoted to the Lord, service

Drawing on their connections with other relief groups in Chicagoland, the Laechelts helped organize ministry to families shaken by the shootings, traveling three hours round trip daily for more than a week to serve in the north suburban community.

“It’s hard work, but we know we’re supposed to be there,” Wayne said of their servant ministry at the time.

IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams said in a message that resonated with the state’s more than 400 trained IBDR volunteers, “This is a tragedy that is difficult to process, concluding a life so devoted to the Lord and to service. We as a Baptist family join Wayne’s wife, Bev and the family in their grief.”

Laechelt was featured in a 2021 news story during a callout after Hurricane Ida in Louisiana.

Laechelt’s friends honored him with an ice cream fellowship after the May 20 service.

“I will always remember Wayne’s love of ice cream,” Ramage said. “Since he and Bev were often the first to arrive at a callout, he would always visit local ice cream shops before other teams arrived. We have many fond memories of eating ice cream together.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Eric Reed and originally published by IBSA Newsjournal.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • BGCT churches unite to aid Kerr County flood relief efforts
    BGCT churches unite to aid Kerr County flood relief efforts
    July 10, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Baylor rescinds grant for LGBTQIA+ study following ‘concern and confusion’
    Baylor rescinds grant for LGBTQIA+ study following ‘concern and confusion’
    July 10, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Critical aid helping Texans find ‘some sense of normalcy’ after flooding
    Critical aid helping Texans find ‘some sense of normalcy’ after flooding
    July 10, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

BGCT churches unite to aid Kerr County flood relief efforts

Baptist General Convention of Texas churches in Kerrville, Texas, and surrounding areas are mobilizing their members to aid in relief efforts after the flooding of the Guadalupe River on July 4. 

Baylor rescinds grant for LGBTQIA+ study following ‘concern and confusion’

Baylor University has rescinded a $644,000 grant intended to study the “disenfranchisement” of LGBTQIA+ individuals and women in churches, following concern from the Baptist General

Critical aid helping Texans find ‘some sense of normalcy’ after flooding

While Baptist Disaster Relief teams are meeting immediate needs in central Texas, some clean-up efforts in areas like Kerrville may be on hold another two

Texas tragedy coverage offers opportunities to minister, serve

Not only am I a journalist, but also a Baptist journalist. And I have spent the better part of my career with people, hearing their stories and sharing what God is doing in the world around us.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel