The tragic, untimely passing of the track star and promising financial advisor has left the Naperville, Illinois, community in mourning.
Highlights
- Wesley Beitler, a talented track and field athlete from Indiana State University, passed away in a car accident on January 19, 2025, in Glenview, Illinois. The accident claimed the lives of three individuals, including Wes.
- Wes’s parents, Sue and Nathan, have been deeply affected by the loss, and his younger brother, Kyle, shared a heartfelt post on Reddit about the support he received from the gaming community.
- Besides being an athlete, Wes was pursuing a career in finance and had transferred to the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business.
- He worked at Thrivent as a financial advisor and was interested in economics, cryptocurrency, and right-wing politics.
The Indiana State University community is mourning the loss of Wesley Beitler, a talented track and field athlete who passed away in a car accident on January 19, 2025.
The accident, which occurred in Glenview, Illinois, claimed the lives of three individuals, including Wes.
The news has left his family, friends, and teammates devastated.
While many have posted their heartfelt condolences on Facebook, Wes’ parents, Sue and Nathan, have maintained their silence on social media, likely taking their time to process the devastating event.
Wes Beitler Was A Track Star At Indiana State University
Wes Beitler was a 22-year-old athlete known for his dedication and passion for track and field.
Born and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Wes attended Waubonsie Valley High School, where he excelled in distance-running events.
His impressive performance earned him a spot on the Indiana State University track and field team, where he continued to shine as a distance runner.
Wes And His Brother, Kyle, Were Avid Gamers
Beyond his athletic prowess, Wes was an avid gamer, a passion he shared with his younger brother, Kyle.
Kyle shared a heartfelt post on the subreddit r/whiteoutsurvival, a community dedicated to enthusiasts of the survival mobile game “Whiteout Survival.”
There, he wrote,
Yesterday morning, my older brother passed away in a tragic car accident. This has been the most traumatic event in my entire life. I told my alliance, because I kind of figured I wouldn’t be playing anymore, since we always competed to see who could have higher power in this game. When I logged on at night, I was just gonna collect troops and hop off. But to my surprise, the entire server had united to hold a funeral for my brother. Tons of people from different languages, all across the world, just giving me comfort and condolences. I just wanted to say, my brother would have loved it. And I loved it. It’s nice to see the humanity behind each and every player, that everyone has a story and there’s a face behind each screen. Thank you State 1967. Wes Beitler would have been proud.
Reddit
In the comments, one user noted,
I ran cross country against him in high school and used to meet up with him for some training runs. I’m so sorry to hear about this. Rest in peace, Wes.
Reddit
The brother replied,
Such a significant part of his life. He was passionate about everything he did, crazy to meet people even in random places like this that he knew. He was so known and loved.
Reddit
In addition to his brother, Wes also had a sister named Kayla.
The Accident Claimed The Lives Of Three People, Including Wed
The car accident that claimed Wes’s life occurred at around 4:30 a.m. near the intersection of West Lake Avenue and Pfingsten Road in Glenview, Illinois.
The vehicle, which was the only one involved in the crash, was found engulfed in flames when first responders arrived at the scene.
Tragically, all three occupants of the car were pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and the Glenview Police Department and the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force’s Major Crash Assistance Team are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Wes Had A Promising Career In Finance Ahead Of Him
Besides being a star athlete, Wes was also on a path to achieving a successful career in finance.
After studying at Indiana State for two years, Wes transferred to the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, where he pursued a BS in finance.
Graduating in May 2024, Wes worked at Thrivent, an American Fortune 500 not-for-profit financial services organization.
There, he initially worked as a wealth management intern and eventually earned a position as a full-time financial advisor.
Ferda boys! We are just having fun! We aren’t posting it for you, we are posting it for ourselves. pic.twitter.com/foZ7FzpB1A
— Wes Beitler (@WesleyBeitler) July 29, 2020
According to his X account, Wes was deeply interested in world and American economics, cryptocurrency, and right-wing politics.
A service is being held in his honor on January 28, 2025, at the Harvest New Beginnings Church in Oswego.
Additional Information
- While at the University of Tennessee, Wes briefly worked as a security officer at Sunspot Restaurant and as an associate at Publix supermarkets.
- Wes also had “Series 66” certification from the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)— an exam designed to qualify candidates as securities agents and investment adviser representatives.
