David M. Staley

David M. Staley, age 41, of Round Lake Beach, Illinois, passed away on June 19, 2026, due to an accidental choking incident. He was taken to the emergency department at Swedish Covenant Hospital, where he passed away. David was born on November 25, 1984, in Libertyville, Illinois, the son of Tom and Penny Staley. He graduated from Laremont School in Gages Lake, Illinois, in 2004.

At 18 months of age, David began showing developmental differences and was initially diagnosed with ADHD with autistic tendencies. He attended a variety of special education and mainstream classrooms until the age of eight, when his primary diagnosis was changed to autism. He then attended specialized autism programs in Libertyville and Mundelein before enrolling at Laremont School, where he participated in a vocational program focused on developing work and life skills.

While attending Laremont, one of David’s teachers encouraged him to participate in Special Olympics. He competed in swimming, track and field, and bocce. His success in track and field earned him a place at the Illinois State Special Olympics, where, in his first year of competition, he brought home both a gold medal and a silver medal.

In 2004, David was accepted into a residential and vocational program with Visions. When Visions later became part of Trinity Services, he continued living in community homes in the Chicago area and working at the organization’s workshop in Des Plaines. David proudly represented both the Visions VIPs and later the Trinity Tigers in Special Olympics competition. He remained a valued member of the Trinity family until his passing.

David always looked forward to visiting his family in Round Lake Beach, especially during the holidays. He was a devoted fan of the original Star Wars trilogy and the Home Alone movies, which brought him great joy throughout his life.

David is survived by his father and stepmother, Tom and Debbie Staley of Round Lake Beach, Illinois; his brother, Steven (Mia) Jans of Newnan, Georgia; his sister, Kristin (John) Schubert of Elgin, Illinois; and his great-nephews, Stevie and Dakota. He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Penny Staley.

As we celebrate David’s life, the Staley family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff of Trinity Services for the exceptional care, kindness, and support they provided throughout the years. Their dedication enriched David’s life and brought comfort to his family.

A memorial gathering will be held at a later date. The family will extend separate invitations. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in David’s memory to Trinity Services, 2101 Oxford Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018. All arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030. For more information, please call (847)223-8122 or visit www.StrangFuneral.org.