Our youngest child of four, second daughter, Jillian Rebekah Geuns Hege, is forever twenty-three. Jill had an auto accident due to a seizure, ultimately claiming her life July 27, 2012. But, her story doesn’t end there. As a self-proclaimed organ donor, she saved the lives of four people. (Two of those recipients are family friends now). Many of the 1,200 who attended her Celebration of Life thereafter, bolstered the donor registration numbers in Henry County, IL. We (her parents) became advocates for Gift of Hope.
Jilly had danced for 15 years, and owned her own studios in Geneseo and Annawan, IL. In her memory, we have established annual young dancer scholarships at Dance Connection Studio in East Moline, IL. To date we have given 63 tuition scholarships so that young dancers feel accomplished and empowered to achieve their dreams.