In Memoriam
Meagan’s Story
In the summer of 2009, 24-year-old Meagan Ahlstrom of Batavia, IL, originally of TN, was a young, vibrant and godly woman, and a student of Middle Tennessee State University. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2009, Meagan and her mother Rebecca were on their way home from Nashville, when they were struck head-on, by a drunk driver in the area of the Grundy County Fairgrounds, outside of Morris, IL. Meagan was killed instantly and her young life was taken as a consequence of the intoxicated driver’s decision to drive impaired that morning. The driver was subsequently sentenced to 5 ½ years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
After the tragedy, Rebecca demonstrated remarkable strength and went on to speak to students and organizations in the area, discussing her loss and the consequences of drunken driving, as well as releasing the book: Jesus Meet Me: Knowing A Personal God, a combination of Meagan’s journal entries and Rebecca’s struggles throughout grieving.
Since the event, with the help of Exelon Nuclear Energy, Coroner John W. Callahan was able to place Meagan’s vehicle onto a trailer, which is now named “Meagan’s Story” and travels around Grundy County and the Chicagoland area. Callahan’s message is simple and those words are written on the side of the trailer, stating, “Don’t drink and drive!” Coroner Callahan urges everyone to always have a plan if they plan on drinking. Whether it is using a designated driver or ride-share program, such as Uber or Lyft. Stay safe! Go Meagan, Go God!
Remembering the Jahn’s
On November 6, 2008, the lives of Amanda Jahn, 27, and her two children, Ryan, 3, and Kaitlyn, 11-months-old, were tragically cut short, when a drunk driver struck and killed the family. The driver of the other vehicle was intoxicated and subsequently sentenced to twenty-four-years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Since the tragedy, Joshua Jahn has went on to remember his wife and childrens’ legacy, finding ways to speak to others about how his life was forever changed by the consequences of someone drinking and driving. Jahn has also created a website and Facebook page in memory of his family: http://www.tillkingdomcome.com/
On the eleventh anniversary of the deaths of his family, Joshua posted the following message on his page: “Today we remember the smiles, the laughs, and many hugs. We carry their memory with us, even while time presses forward. They will always be held in our hearts. In the quiet moments, even time cannot separate us. Mandy, Ryan & little Kaitlyn will always be loved, and because of that, they will always be with us. And one day, we will all be reunited once again.”
In the summer of 2009, 24-year-old Meagan Ahlstrom of Batavia, IL, originally of TN, was a young, vibrant and godly woman, and a student of Middle Tennessee State University. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2009, Meagan and her mother Rebecca were on their way home from Nashville, when they were struck head-on, by a drunk driver in the area of the Grundy County Fairgrounds, outside of Morris, IL. Meagan was killed instantly and her young life was taken as a consequence of the intoxicated driver’s decision to drive impaired that morning. The driver was subsequently sentenced to 5 ½ years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.After the tragedy, Rebecca demonstrated remarkable strength and went on to speak to students and organizations in the area, discussing her loss and the consequences of drunken driving, as well as releasing the book: Jesus Meet Me: Knowing A Personal God, a combination of Meagan’s journal entries and Rebecca’s struggles throughout grieving.
Since the event, with the help of Exelon Nuclear Energy, Coroner John W. Callahan was able to place Meagan’s vehicle onto a trailer, which is now named “Meagan’s Story” and travels around Grundy County and the Chicagoland area. Callahan’s message is simple and those words are written on the side of the trailer, stating, “Don’t drink and drive!” Coroner Callahan urges everyone to always have a plan if they plan on drinking. Whether it is using a designated driver or ride-share program, such as Uber or Lyft. Stay safe! Go Meagan, Go God!
Remembering the Jahn’s
On November 6, 2008, the lives of Amanda Jahn, 27, and her two children, Ryan, 3, and Kaitlyn, 11-months-old, were tragically cut short, when a drunk driver struck and killed the family. The driver of the other vehicle was intoxicated and subsequently sentenced to twenty-four-years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.Since the tragedy, Joshua Jahn has went on to remember his wife and childrens’ legacy, finding ways to speak to others about how his life was forever changed by the consequences of someone drinking and driving. Jahn has also created a website and Facebook page in memory of his family: http://www.tillkingdomcome.com/
On the eleventh anniversary of the deaths of his family, Joshua posted the following message on his page: “Today we remember the smiles, the laughs, and many hugs. We carry their memory with us, even while time presses forward. They will always be held in our hearts. In the quiet moments, even time cannot separate us. Mandy, Ryan & little Kaitlyn will always be loved, and because of that, they will always be with us. And one day, we will all be reunited once again.”
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