Joliet Community Mourns Army Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr.

Army Staff Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr., a Joliet native, was one of four U.S. soldiers killed during a training mission in Lithuania last month when their armored vehicle was found submerged in a bog. Dueñez, who enlisted right after high school and served more than seven years with deployments to Poland and Germany, is being remembered as a dedicated soldier, husband, father, and respected community member. His body was returned home to Joliet, where an emotional procession and funeral service were held, with local residents lining the streets and flags flown at half-staff across Illinois in his honor. The city and state have come together to celebrate his life and mourn his loss, with officials urging the community to show support and respect during the funeral events.