James Herron

James Michael “Mike” Herron, 59, originally from Schaumburg, Illinois, passed away August 6, 2025 at a hospital in Highland Park, Illinois. Mike was born December 1, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois, to Jim and Judy Herron.

Mike spent a lot of his early childhood at Shriners Children’s Hospital due to Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a brittle bone disease. Because of his disability, Mike wasn’t ever able to walk, so he spent much of his early life riding on a skateboard (with a giant flag on it) around the neighborhood to keep up with all of the other kids, before he got his first power wheelchair. Once he had a power chair, he was hell on wheels, especially at Woodfield Mall, where many people thought his chair was out of control and they would try to save him from running amok down the ramps in the mall.

Mike attended high school in Palatine, Illinois because at the time it was the only high school in the area equipped for disabled students. He was actively involved in a recreational program through NWSRA (Northwest Special Recreation Association) where he was able to socialize with other kids with disabilities and he spent many summers at a Kiwanis camp in Indiana where he met a bunch of friends with whom he still kept in touch with to this day.

He went to SIU Carbondale where he studied Computer Information Processing and Advanced Technical Studies and History/Ancient History. After he graduated, he became a computer programmer/analyst and web designer. While at SIU, he became an avid Dungeons and Dragons player and there he met many friends with whom he would spend countless hours playing D & D, probably rather than studying! One of his biggest accomplishments after college was learning to drive. He was able to get a van that was handicapped accessible, so he was able to experience what most of us take for granted. I don’t think he loved driving, mostly because he wasn’t very good at it, but he was able to experience it, nonetheless.

Mike LOVED the Chicago Cubs and while he lived in Evanston, he would ride the CTA to Wrigley Field to watch his Cubbies win….and sometimes lose, but he was always happy to be at the ballpark! When he wasn’t playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends here in Illinois, his free time was consumed with a very diverse collection of comic books that he had acquired over the years ranging from superhero, science fiction to graphic novels. He had an extensive collection of cookbooks from some of his favorite TV chefs, including Alton Brown and Julia Child. He loved sushi, cooking Asian food in his wok and baking cookies to give to friends when they would get together to “game” (Dungeons and Dragons).

He is survived by his 3 siblings: Kris Berg (Zippy), her son Christopher Berg, Lori (Johnny) Benson, and his brother Kirby Herron. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Judy, both sets of grandparents and many aunts and uncles.

Interment will be private with a celebration of life to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Shriners Children’s Hospital, ADAPT Chicago or a charity of your choice.