In Memoriam: John K. Wilen II
December 26, 1956 -March 18, 2025
Co-founder of Dimension Works and Industry Trailblazer
John K. Wilen II, a respected industry leader and co-founder of Dimension Works, passed away on March 18, 2025, at the age of 68. A resident of Grayslake, Illinois, and formerly of Glenview, Wilen helped shape the modern exhibit industry with his creative vision, business acumen, and personal warmth.
Born December 26, 1956, in Evanston, Illinois, Wilen pursued a creative path early in life. After attending art school, he was hired by a small exhibit company in Chicago. Four years later, he and three partners founded Dimension Works, Inc., which would grow into one of the largest privately owned exhibit companies in the United States. Known for its innovation and strong client relationships, the company became a fixture at Las Vegas trade shows and eventually expanded into Europe and Brazil.
Former colleagues recall Wilen’s commitment to quality and his ability to balance creative design with business strategy. His work helped define exhibit standards throughout the 1980s and ’90s and inspired many of today’s exhibit professionals.
After more than two decades at the helm of Dimension Works, Wilen and his partners sold the company. He then transitioned into a second career that combined creativity with independence—scratchboard art. Traveling the national art show circuit, he exhibited almost every weekend from April to October, winning numerous awards for his detailed and imaginative artwork.
Later, he and his wife Debbie opened a custom framing business, allowing him to stay close to the creative process while working side-by-side with his partner. They eventually retired together after eight years in business.
Wilen’s personal life was equally rich. He was an avid motorcyclist and took a three-week road trip through Europe in 1981 with Debbie after purchasing a BMW motorcycle in Munich. He explored the U.S. by bike as well, including a trip to Alaska with fellow riders. His next passion was scuba diving—he dove in locations including Thailand, Cozumel, Curacao, Belize, and Papua New Guinea. He loved seeing hammerhead sharks and barracudas and often recorded his dives on video.
He was also a skier, starting on the slopes of Chestnut Mountain in Illinois and later conquering peaks in Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail. A highlight of his life was skiing with his children in St. Moritz, Switzerland in 2002.
John and Debbie shared many adventures together, from family ski trips to cruises in the Caribbean and Alaska. For their 30th anniversary, they traveled to Hawaii, and for their 40th, they celebrated with a cruise along the Danube River.
Wilen also enjoyed curling and competed in bonspiels around the country, winning many tournaments along the way.
In his later years, health challenges slowed his travels but gave him more time with his family. He cherished time at home with his grandchildren and remained closely connected to loved ones.
He is survived by his wife Debbie Heinrich Wilen; his children Jennifer (Michael) Rosenstein and Matthew (Jillian) Wilen; and grandchildren Lucas, Kenli, and Theodore. He also leaves behind siblings Jan Wilen and Scott (Carol) Wilen; nieces and nephews Daniel Maresca, Justine (Mike) Stonebridge, Michael (Hailey) Wilen, and Casey (Christina) Wilen; and many great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father John K. Wilen Jr., his mother Mary Miller, and his stepfather George Miller.
A memorial and celebration of life will be held:
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
