Eli Christopher Maurer passed away at age 24 from an unexpected cardiopulmonary crisis during his regular exercise routine on September 17, 2022.

Eli's mission in life was to help others. In the spring of 2022, Eli graduated with his nursing degree from Illinois State University's Mennonite College of Nursing. He began his nursing career in the emergency department at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. He cared for the community with compassion.

Friends of his parents, Cynthia Ashbrook and Christopher Maurer, and his siblings, Kylie and Gabe Maurer, established a fund to focus on education and action on respiratory and cardiovascular health. The Eli Maurer Memorial Fund fund will use the money for things such as to screen school kids for heart issues, buy and donate defibrillators and train others in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

In his own words, Eli did what his heart and mind told him to pursue. He loved to make people laugh, having a project and take care of his family, friends and pets. His impromptu and often irreverent humor was second to none. Having just celebrated his grandma Donna Brandt Maurer's 100^th birthday with family, Eli's last day was special and full of joy. He was and will live on in the hearts and minds of friends and family as a person who is steadfast, fearlessly honest, comedically gifted, playful and all-around wonderful.

Illinois Prairie Community Foundation serves as fiscal sponsor of the Eli Maurer Memorial Fund. You may make an online donation to the Eli Maurer Memorial Fund, or get information on making a donation in another manner by clicking here.