Loren C. Mann, 58 of Aurora, IL, passed away at home surrounded by his family on July 4, 2026.
He was born in Ames, Iowa in 1968 to Jerome "Jerry" and Shirley Mann. He moved to and grew up in Sturgeon Bay where he became a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan. Loren attended Wisconsin Academy for high school in Columbus, WI where he met the love of his life, Dawn Wiggins. They graduated together in 1986.
He attended Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI majoring in Chemistry, with minors in Physics, Math and Education. He graduated from Andrews University in 1991. He then attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where he earned a master’s degree in physical chemistry. Loren and Dawn were married in 1991 and were happily married for 35 years. They felt blessed to have found each other and were not just husband and wife, but also best friends. Loren always wanted to be a teacher, like his mother, and help students learn. He started his teaching career at Morton West High School. He taught Chemistry, and some years of Physics, at Hinsdale South High School for the past 32 years until his retirement. Some of the activities he sponsored, coached, or advised over the years included: class sponsor, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and Science Olympiad. Loren was a dedicated teacher who touched the lives of countless students over the course of his career. He felt rewarded when he was able to help students understand and apply concepts in chemistry and physics, and their success was his success. He always said “Chem-is-try.” Meaning, in order to learn you have to try. His students were always amazed that he could do complex equations in his head when they needed to use calculators.
When he wasn’t teaching Loren loved to watch sports on TV, including football (he was an avid Packers fan), Tour de France, and the Olympics (especially curling). He also loved to travel with Dawn and some of the special places they visited were Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, Tennessee, and many other places in the U.S.
Loren was preceded in death by his father, Jerome Mann; his mother-in-law, Sandra Peterson; and his brother-in-law, Jeff Wiggins. He is survived by his loving wife, Dawn Mann; his father-in-law, Ralph Peterson; his mother, Shirley Mann; his brother, Adlai (Julie) Mann; his sister, Eunita (Gary) Collins; his sister, Ramona (Glenn) Klevgard; three nieces; one nephew; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends and colleagues.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff at Edward and Rush Copley Hospitals and Angels Grace Hospice. “Words can’t express how much your compassion, comfort, and support meant to us all during Loren's final days.”
Visitation in Illinois will be Friday, July 10, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Modell Funeral Home, 7710 South Cass Avenue, Darien, IL. Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Sturgeon Bay Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 6121 Gordon Rd, Sturgeon Bay, WI. Friends may call at the church in Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday from 12:00 noon until the time of service. Burial will follow at Bayside Cemetery. Huehns Funeral Home is assisting the Mann family with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Loren may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.
