Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas says he offers his “most sincere condolences” to the family of Ryan McNeil.
The 29-year-old WIU graduate student was due to graduate in May. He passed away April 16 in Columbia, MO.
A private service was held April 19. A celebration of his life will be held at a later, undetermined date.
McNeil was a graduate assistant in University Housing and Dining Services. He was pursuing a master’s degree in music and was the director of the Wesley Ringers at Wesley United Methodist Church in Macomb. He was recently named Graduate Student of the Month by WIU’s Division of Student Services.
A tribute to McNeil, as well as two other students who passed away this school year, will be honored during a tree planting ceremony on the Sherman Hall west lawn on April 26.
