Nathan Gudeman

It is with our deepest sorrows that we announce the death of Nathan George Gudeman, 22, of Champaign, IL. He was born February 8th, 2003 and taken suddenly from us March 22, 2025. He was in death as he was in life, clever and brave, using his final moments to seek out help for himself and his beloved, Kaitlyn (Katy) Lassy, who survives him.

Nathan leaves behind a large, loving group of family and friends including his mother, Samantha Penrose (Patrick Morrow); father, Keith Gudeman (Stephani); younger brothers Henry and Justin; two grandfathers, Dana Penrose and Dean Gudeman; as well as Step-Grandmothers, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and his beloved pets. Nathan was preceded in death by both of his Grandmothers. He will also be missed dearly by former teachers, co-workers, and locals who were graced by his presence. 

Nathan spent the bulk of his life here in Champaign, living briefly in Elkhart, IN, Colorado Springs, CO, and Urbana, IL. Nathan attended Dr. Howard Elementary (15th Annual Young Achievers Award), Franklin Steam Academy (Avid, Drama Club, Pens to Lens), and graduated from Central High School in 2021 (Academic Letter 2019, Art Club). Nathan had been working at the Ribeye since high school, starting as a salad prep and working his way up into the Server role.

Nathan was a good kid, a great friend, a dedicated boyfriend, and an adventurous spirit. He enjoyed trying out new recipes at home with Katy, goofing off with their pets, and traveling to new places to try out different outdoor sporting adventures with various friends and family. He was an avid skateboarder and all ‘round dare devil. What Nathan meant to us cannot be summarized in just a few paragraphs.

Nathan was charming and confident. Nathan was loyal and brave. Nathan was a joy to be around, a joy to know. Nathan appreciated the natural world, a good book, researching interests, doodling, board games, sewing… he was always experiencing life to the fullest. We won’t soon recover from this loss, and we will always wonder what could have been.

All are welcome to greet the family and offer condolences from 2:30-5:30 on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St, Champaign.

Friends will also gather later that same evening at Spalding Skate Park (Champaign) to remember Nathan from 6:30-8:30 at the Skate Against Violence event.

If you wish to send flowers, please use the link on this website to order from our florist.

We want to thank the many generous donors to Nathan’s GoFundMe, and hope to see everyone at the service. We hope to announce plans, very soon, for a memorial ramp, rail, plaque, etc., hopefully in cooperation with our fabulous local Park District.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nathan Gudeman, please visit our floral store.