Wenhua Zhao Obituary (1968

Wenhua Zhao, 55 of Normal passed away on Saturday, December 23rd at OSF St. Frances Medical Center in Peoria with his wife, Sarah (Fengli), by his side. Cremation rites have been arranged by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home. A Memorial service will be held on February 3, 2024, at 10 AM at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington. Pastor Jason Damkoehler will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington. Memorial contributions may be made to World for Jesus Ministry Cedar Wood Clothing Outreach or their general fund through worldforjesus.org by clicking the green “DONATE”. Wenhua was born in Shan Dong, China on April 2, 1968, to Denlian Zhao and Xiuzhi Jiang. He married Sarah Fengli Zhao on April 1, 1993, in China. She survives as well as two children, Isabelle of New York and Joshua of Normal. His mother XiuZhi, one brother Wenyong, and two sisters Wenli and Wenyan all survive in China. He was preceded in death by his father. Wenhua had been a professor at Illinois State University in Normal for more than twenty years. Wenhua was remembered as an excellent colleague and a great mathematician, a wonderful mentor and teacher. He was a very devoted husband and father. His hobbies are fishing and solving mathematical problems. He was very diligent, responsible, devoted, and rigorous in all his work. During the last two and half months of battling against the aftermath caused by one of the most severe kinds of stroke, his love and trust for the Lord had been restored. He was surrounded by much love and prayers support from his wife Sarah (Fengli) and many Christian friends, and much love and support from their two beloved children, their friends, relatives, and different medical care team members. He fought this battle with great courage and perseverance and had most of his lost functions restored through rehabilitation. Yet on December 23rd, a relapse happened and both invasive and surgical interventions failed. He passed away the same day. Yet, he has passed away with full confidence found in the promises of the Lord: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. … Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm (KJV) 23: 4, 6. These are the two verses that he liked the most and had recited often before he found his eternal rest in the Lord.