WARREN — Warren resident Shelley Wonders was taking down St. Patrick’s Day shamrock decorations from her yard Monday morning when she noticed a memorial for her son Garrett Wonders was missing near the front of the house.

“I went out there with Easter decorations and looked over toward the house and didn’t see the bike,” she said.

Shelley said she tried to reach her husband, Jay Wonders, at work at Trumbull Family Fitness at first thinking he may have taken it down for some reason to adjust or replace the lights. When he came home, she asked Jay if he knew anything about it.

The Wonders said they did not file a police report.

Jay said the memorial to Garrett includes an adult bike that is continually lit and a few cement memorial markers from family in the shrubbery area.

He said the bike memorial has been displayed for 15 years and has never been taken before.

“Garrett died in 2004 and at Christmas that year, we put it up as a decorated memorial to him. We decided we could not take it down,” Jay said.

Garrett Wonders, who was a Naval officer and nuclear engineer, was 25 when he was struck by a pickup truck on March 10, 2004, in South Carolina and died from injuries he sustained. He was an athlete who competed in marathons, triathlons and adventure rides. While in Columbus, he raced on The Ohio State University Cycling Team where he competed at collegiate nationals in 2001. In 2003, Garrett was a member of the United States Elite National Military Cycling Team. He was also training for the U.S. Olympic Trials before his death.

“Garrett loved cycling. He loved the sport, loved to get people involved in it,” Jay said.

“When I first realized it was missing, I was very annoyed. I posted two items on Facebook Monday — one about what would have been my dad’s 106th birthday and the other showing the bike and telling how it is missing. I received a lot of responses to that,” Shelley said.

The couple spoke to neighbors who had not seen a thing and were also shocked.

Jay said they are not sure if it was Saturday or Sunday when the bike was taken.

“Whoever took it, we would like it back. All they have to do is leave it in the yard. They don’t have to stop,” Shelley said.

Jay said the bike can’t be ridden because he took the gearing and chains off it in order for lights to be placed on the bike. The tires also had no air in them.

“No one will be able to ride the bike,” he said.

Shelley said she believes either a group of kids took it or someone pulled up with a truck and took it to pawn or for scrap.

“If the kids took it, they will realize it can’t be ridden,” she said, noting she rode a bike through the neighborhood to see if it may have been dumped on the side of the road.

The Wonders’ said the bike has sentimental value.

The family also remembers Garrett and other bicyclists who have lost their lives riding with a “Ride of Silence” held the third Wednesday in May locally at the Warren G. Harding High School parking lot. This year’s event is 7 p.m. May 15.

Jay said because the bike is lit all day, people often use the bike for giving people directions.

“Some of the neighbors said they have told people they live two houses from the house with the lit bike or they live one street away from the street with the lighted bike,” Shelley said.