Jenna R. Protz, 14, of Vandalia, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, due to an auto accident near Hillsboro.
Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 22, from 3 to 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Vandalia.
An additional visitation will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., prior to the service at the church. Miller Funeral Home in Vandalia is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Protz was born Aug. 3, 2005, in Effingham, the daughter of Randol "Randy" Keith and Brenda Diane (Baptist) Protz.
A freshman at Vandalia High School, she was a member of the First Methodist Church, where she attended the weekly youth group. She was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Code Red at Vandalia High School.
She was a member of the VCHS volleyball and basketball programs, and was so excited to begin her basketball career in the gymnasium she grew up in. Her other activities included Vandalia Junior High volleyball, basketball, softball and track. She was a junior high school state qualifier in discus.
Born into a family of lifelong drag racers, she was the fourth generation of the Protz family to be involved. She began driving her junior dragster at the age of eight, and saw a lot of win lights from day one. She especially enjoyed it when the win light came for her against the boys. She loved watching sports, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, Duke University, University of Alabama, the Vandalia Vandals and other teams.
Ms. Protz loved being with her family, her dog, Hoosier, and most of all, her friends. She was a lover of keeping up with her SnapChat streaks and her 11:11 crew. She loved shopping, macaroni and cheese, fake succulent plants, sloths, penguins and anything tiny she could collect.
She will always be remembered for making others laugh, her silly faces, her fun personality, her smile, her ability to accept everyone and her selflessness.
She is survived by her father, Randy (Janel) Protz of Vandalia; mother, Brenda Protz and Heidi Silveira of Springfield; sister, Brandy Michelle Protz of Vandalia; grandparents, Frank "Buzz" (Barbara) Baptist of Jacksonville; uncle, Brian (Jenny) Baptist of Jacksonville; cousins, Makenna and Daxton of Jacksonville; and stepbrother, Quinton Kornegay of Belleville.
She was preceded in death by her parental grandparents, William "Bill and Jackolyn Protz.
Memorials may be made to Shriner's Hospitals for Children and/or Old Capitol Foundation, which benefits the Vandalia Community schools.
Online condolences may be left at www.millerfh.net.
