Family, Friends Remember Algonquin Teen for His Outgoing Personality

“If everyone was more like Christian Stilwell, this world would be perfect.”

“You always brought a smile to my face every time we had class.”

“Christian Stilwell, you impacted so many lives, you loved like no other and you were never down on things.”

These are just a few of the hundreds of comments that 17-year-old Christian Stilwell’s Facebook friends left on his profile to memorialize him, following his unexpected death on April 15.

Christian was the junior class president at Dundee-Crown High School and was always active in something. Whether he was helping plan the Junior prom, organizing a roast for a retiring teacher or serving at his church, Christian was usually happiest when he was coordinating something.

When he wasn’t planning the next school function or rehearsing for his next play, he was helping his younger brother, Luke, with a science project or a family friend audition for a play. Christian was never short on reaching out to others.

“He had a great serving heart,” said the Stilwells' close friend, Doug Yonamine.

On the walls of their home, Larry and Denise Stilwell celebrate their son's biggest passion—participating in musical productions—with a picture collage. Christian's favorite role, they said, was either as Ralph, in the Sound of Music, or Joseph, in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Since the third grade, Christian has participated in 20 or so musicals through the Christian Youth Theater, an after-school theater arts education program.

 “That was one of the biggest things in his life,” Larry said.

In fact, his mother’s favorite memory of Christian was when she took him to his first audition for the Christian Youth Theater.

“He was 8 years old at the time,” Denise said. “He didn’t make the show, but we were in such high spirits the whole way home. He loved the limelight.”

Most recently, Christian had been receiving school credit to intern at the theater. He was particularly interested in learning about the administrative aspect of the theater, his parents said.

“I think if he had wanted to stay in theater he would have been a director or something like that,” Denise said.  “I think that’s where he was more interested, in telling people what to do instead of being told what to do,” she said with a laugh and smile.

It seems as though Christian had an impact on many people he met. Upon hearing about Christian’s death, dozens of students poured into the Willow Creek Community Church to pray, said Ryan Boldt, the church’s group life pastor.

“Everytime I was out in the community with him, if we were shopping, going to the post office, running to the grocery store or whatever errand we were running, he would always run into someone,” Denise said. “All the time. I was never once out with him when he would not run into somebody that he knew.”

With all of Christian’s accomplishments, it was difficult for Christian’s parents to name just one favorite memory, but one thing the Stilwells said they’ll always remember Christian for is his singing.

“That’s what we’re going to miss,” Larry said. “We’re going to miss his singing so much.”

Denise added, “We always knew when he was in the house.”

Visitation and memorial service will be from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20 in the lakeside auditorium at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, South Barrington. The memorial service will start at 7 p.m.