Obituaries

Joseph (Joe) Vajarsky, age 63, passed away on December 10, 2025. Born February 19, 1962, in Oak Lawn, Illinois, to Ken and Lyn Vajarsky. Joe grew up in Hometown, Illinois, and graduated from Oak Lawn High School. He earned his BFA in painting and drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Joe Vajarsky and Caroline Scheeler moved to Wayne, Illinois, from Chicago in 1996 and were married the following year. They welcomed son, Owen, in 1999 and daughter, Stella, in 2002. Their family enjoyed their home, summers in Michigan, lots of laughter, and evenings by the fire together.

Joe was a deeply creative soul and spent his entire life exploring his unique vision through painting, drawing, music, writing, and photography. He taught himself to play the saxophone in his 20s and enjoyed participating in groups and bands over the years. His horn gave him a voice that few knew.

For the past 16 years, Joe has been a beloved yoga teacher, known for his calm, resonant voice as well as his sense of humor. Survived by Caroline Scheeler; Owen (son), 26; Stella (daughter), 23; Marc Vajarsky (brother); and his family. A celebration of life will be held in May 2026 in Wayne, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, Stella, Owen, and Caroline would like donations made in Joe’s name to the Wayne Area Conservancy Foundation and WDCB Radio.

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