Mark Justen, who was a funeral home director and winner of the McHenry County Coroner’s Office primary race, died Sunday morning.
Justen, 66, of McHenry, died unexpectedly in his sleep but his death is believed to be natural, sources told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
Police and paramedics responded to Justen’s residence in the 300 block of North Green Street in McHenry around 10:15 a.m. Sunday.
For over 43 years, Justen had been the director of Justen Funeral Home, which has locations in McHenry, Round Lake and Wonder Lake.
Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said that he and Justen had worked together since the 1990s and also worked together in New York after the September 11 attacks.
“This is a terrible loss. I really enjoyed Mark and he worked really hard on every disaster he was called to. It is a tremendous loss to the community and his family,” Cooper told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
“He was a team player. A very hard working guy,” Cooper added.
McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett said in a Facebook post that he and the McHenry City Council were saddened by the sudden death.
“Mark’s longstanding commitment to our community’s residents and especially to our Veterans and first responders will be greatly missed,” Jett said.
“In all of my interactions with Mark it was clear to me that he wanted only the best for the families that he served and to help however he could to make McHenry a better place for all of us,” Jett added.
Attempts to reach the McHenry County Coroner’s Office Sunday afternoon were unsuccessful.
Justen leaves behind his wife Nancy and two sons, Robert and Alexander.