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Greg Zanis, with wife Susan, is visited by well-wishers at his home in Aurora on May 1, 2020. Zanis has been making crosses for those who have been killed by gun violence for years and is now battling terminal cancer.
Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune
Greg Zanis, with wife Susan, is visited by well-wishers at his home in Aurora on May 1, 2020. Zanis has been making crosses for those who have been killed by gun violence for years and is now battling terminal cancer.

Greg Zanis, of Crosses for Losses, honored in drive-by visitation

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Greg Zanis, with wife Susan, is visited by well-wishers at his home in Aurora on May 1, 2020. Zanis has been making crosses for those who have been killed by gun violence for years and is now battling terminal cancer.
Greg Zanis, with wife Susan, is visited by well-wishers at his home in Aurora on May 1, 2020.
Zanis has been making crosses for those who have been killed by gun violence for years and is now battling terminal cancer.
Well-wishers pass by the home of Greg Zanis in Aurora on May 1, 2020.
Well-wishers pass by the home of Greg Zanis in Aurora on May 1, 2020.
John Ludwig plays a bagpipe as Greg Zanis greets well-wishers at his home in Aurora on May 1, 2020.
John Ludwig plays a bagpipe as Greg Zanis greets well-wishers at his home in Aurora on May 1, 2020.
Greg Zanis knees in October 1997 at the cross erected for Nicholas Contreras, who was killed on Nov. 10, 1996. Fifty-four crosses were erected near the YMCA in Aurora to remember those killed in the community.
Greg Zanis knees in October 1997 at the cross erected for Nicholas Contreras, who was killed on Nov. 10, 1996. Fifty-four crosses were erected near the YMCA in Aurora to remember those killed in the community.
Volunteers pray over white handmade crosses memorializing the victims of a mass shooting which left at least 22 people dead on Aug. 5, 2019, in El Paso, Texas. The crosses were made by retired carpenter Greg Zanis, who has made thousands of crosses for victims of mass shootings and disasters.
Volunteers pray over white handmade crosses memorializing the victims of a mass shooting which left at least 22 people dead on Aug. 5, 2019, in El Paso, Texas. The crosses were made by retired carpenter Greg Zanis, who has made thousands of crosses for victims of mass shootings and disasters.
Handmade crosses memorializing the victims of a mass shooting, which left at least 22 people dead, are lined up before being carried to a nearby makeshift memorial on Aug. 5, 2019, in El Paso, Texas.
Handmade crosses memorializing the victims of a mass shooting, which left at least 22 people dead, are lined up before being carried to a nearby makeshift memorial on Aug. 5, 2019, in El Paso, Texas.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School administrative employees Margarita LaSalle, left, and JoEllen Berman, walk along the hill near the school lined with 17 crosses to honor the students and teachers killed on Valentine's Day.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School administrative employees Margarita LaSalle, left, and JoEllen Berman, walk along the hill near the school lined with 17 crosses to honor the students and teachers killed on Valentine’s Day.
Seventeen crosses and Stars of David outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 19, 2018.
Seventeen crosses and Stars of David outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 19, 2018.
Greg Zanis, 66, stacks crosses in the back of his pick-up truck at his home in Aurora on Dec. 6, 2016. Zanis made over 700 crosses for each of the homicide victims that year in Chicago. The crosses were placed in a 4,500-square-foot vacant lot on the city's South Side.
Greg Zanis, 66, stacks crosses in the back of his pick-up truck at his home in Aurora on Dec. 6, 2016. Zanis made over 700 crosses for each of the homicide victims that year in Chicago. The crosses were placed in a 4,500-square-foot vacant lot on the city’s South Side.
Greg Zanis makes a cross at his home in Aurora on Dec. 6, 2016.
Greg Zanis makes a cross at his home in Aurora on Dec. 6, 2016.
Greg Zanis, 66, carries a cross to the back of his pickup truck at his home in Aurora on Dec. 6, 2016.
Greg Zanis, 66, carries a cross to the back of his pickup truck at his home in Aurora on Dec. 6, 2016.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, left, the Rev. Michael Pfleger and artist Greg Zanis lead family members, friends and volunteers along Michigan Avenue on Dec. 31, 2016, as they carry crosses to memorialize over 700 homicide victims.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, left, the Rev. Michael Pfleger and artist Greg Zanis lead family members, friends and volunteers along Michigan Avenue on Dec. 31, 2016, as they carry crosses to memorialize over 700 homicide victims.
Greg Zanis wipes tears from his eyes after he drops off three white crosses with the names of a father, mother and their teenage son who were found dead in their Oak Forest home in an apparent murder-suicide on Feb. 9, 2016. The bodies of David Joost, 54, Margaret O'Leary-Joost, 55, and Daniel Joost, 18, were discovered in the house in the 6600 block of Courtney Avenue about 8 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Greg Zanis wipes tears from his eyes after he drops off three white crosses with the names of a father, mother and their teenage son who were found dead in their Oak Forest home in an apparent murder-suicide on Feb. 9, 2016. The bodies of David Joost, 54, Margaret O’Leary-Joost, 55, and Daniel Joost, 18, were discovered in the house in the 6600 block of Courtney Avenue about 8 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A memorial displaying 58 crosses by Greg Zanis stands at the Welcome To Las Vegas Sign on Oct. 5, 2017, in Las Vegas. Each cross has the name of a victim killed during the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds were injured.
A memorial displaying 58 crosses by Greg Zanis stands at the Welcome To Las Vegas Sign on Oct. 5, 2017, in Las Vegas. Each cross has the name of a victim killed during the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds were injured.
Greg Zanis places crosses he made for a makeshift memorial to the victims of the July 20, 2012, mass shooting at the Century 16 movie theater, in Aurora, Colorado.
Greg Zanis places crosses he made for a makeshift memorial to the victims of the July 20, 2012, mass shooting at the Century 16 movie theater, in Aurora, Colorado.
Greg Zanis, of Aurora, prays with Aurora, Colorado, Mayor Steve Hogan at the 12 crosses Zanis made for a makeshift memorial to the victims of a mass shooting at the Century 16 movie theater July 22, 2012. Police in Aurora, a suburb of Denver, say they have James Holmes, 24, in custody after he killed 12 people and injured 59 during a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Crosses, one for each victim, line a walkway as a memorial to those killed in the Pulse nightclub mass shooting a few blocks from the club early June 19, 2016, in Orlando, Florida.
Crosses, one for each victim, line a walkway as a memorial to those killed in the Pulse nightclub mass shooting a few blocks from the club early June 19, 2016, in Orlando, Florida.
Seven-year-old Mekiha Thomas signs one of the 49 crosses at the makeshift memorial outside Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, Florida, on June 19, 2016. The crosses were erected to honor each of the victims in the Pulse massacre. Even in the rain, Mekiha signed all of the crosses.
Seven-year-old Mekiha Thomas signs one of the 49 crosses at the makeshift memorial outside Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, Florida, on June 19, 2016. The crosses were erected to honor each of the victims in the Pulse massacre. Even in the rain, Mekiha signed all of the crosses.
A woman writes a note on a cross for Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera at a memorial with wooden crosses for each of the 49 victims of the Pulse Nightclub, next to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
A woman writes a note on a cross for Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera at a memorial with wooden crosses for each of the 49 victims of the Pulse Nightclub, next to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, June 17, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
Volunteers pray before bringing crosses to the lawn in front of Santa Fe High School on May 21, 2018.
Volunteers pray before bringing crosses to the lawn in front of Santa Fe High School on May 21, 2018.
Greg Zanis, of Aurora, puts up crosses on March 13, 2005, for the seven victims of a shooting outside the Sheraton hotel in Brookfield, Wisconsin. A gunman opened fire on March 12, 2005, at a church service being held at the hotel, killing seven people before killing himself.
Greg Zanis, of Aurora, puts up crosses on March 13, 2005, for the seven victims of a shooting outside the Sheraton hotel in Brookfield, Wisconsin. A gunman opened fire on March 12, 2005, at a church service being held at the hotel, killing seven people before killing himself.
A woman stands among crosses posted on a hill above Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, in remembrance of the people who died during a school shooting.
A woman stands among crosses posted on a hill above Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, in remembrance of the people who died during a school shooting.
An unidentified couple holding umbrellas in the rain April 30, 1999, visits 15 crosses placed on a hilltop near Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, as a memorial to the victims of the shooting spree at the school.
An unidentified couple holding umbrellas in the rain April 30, 1999, visits 15 crosses placed on a hilltop near Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, as a memorial to the victims of the shooting spree at the school.

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