Dr. Marvin E. Mayer

Dr. Marvin Edward Mayer, age 95, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 28, 2026. He was born to Lester & Adelaide Mayer on April 6, 1930, in Elmhurst, IL.

After his first year of college, his older brother Bob—whose life had been transformed through faith while serving in the Navy—visited him to share his Christian beliefs. He rejected his brother at the time, but Bob said he would pray for him.

Through a series of events in 1950, and Bob’s persistence, Marvin came to understand and believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for his sins. His life was forever changed.

He served for two years in the Marines during the Korean War. It was during this time that he felt God was leading him into ministry, so he enrolled at Westmont College to study the Bible, Theology, and Greek. He then earned a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1958, with an emphasis in Greek language. He finished his doctorate classwork in 1961, but some on the dissertation committee gave him little hope of finishing his research. However, he persevered and received his doctorate in 1970.

Dr. Mayer served the Lord faithfully as a professor at Moody Bible Institute for over 35 years, joining the Institute in 1965 and retiring in 2000. During his time at MBI, Dr. Mayer taught thousands of students in Bible, theology, and evangelism.

He met his wife, Shirley, in 1957, at a wedding of mutual friends in Wycoff, NJ. One year later, those friends were in Marvin and Shirley’s wedding in Westwood, NJ.

Marvin is survived by his children Cheryl Mayer (Bob), Janice (Rick) McKinley, Bonnie (Jimmy) Young, Diane (Curt) Largent, and Daniel (Tyese) Mayer, 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, whom he dearly loved. Marvin was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, as well as his grandson, Zachary Young.

A visitation will be held at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187, on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Interment & military honors will be private at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.