The spouse of St. Louis City SC soccer player Eduard Lowen has passed away following her fight against brain cancer, the team confirmed Monday. Ilona Lowen was 28 years old at the time of her death, local media outlets reported.
St. Louis City SC shared news of her passing through an official statement on their social media platforms.
“We grieve alongside Edu and all those impacted by this loss and ask the CITY community to keep them in your prayers during this difficult time. Ilona was a beautiful example of love, humility, and kindness and will be deeply missed,” the club statement said, in part.
Medical professionals discovered the brain cancer in 2024 following Ilona’s complaints of intense headaches. Following several surgical procedures, physicians informed the family that the disease had reached Stage 4 and was beyond treatment options. She had previously received a diagnosis for a non-cancerous brain tumor.
The 29-year-old midfielder has remained absent from competition this season, though he attended his team’s season opener where he discussed his obligations to his spouse and his commitment to supporting her.
“We get a lot of support from family, from friends, but sometimes there are just moments and things that only I can take care of and I want to take care of because, obviously, I’m the husband,” he said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “There are just certain responsibilities that sometimes force me or also I want to step away and take care of her. Sometimes there are just unexpected things that happen.”
The German-born Eduard Lowen competed professionally in his home country before joining St. Louis City in 2022. Throughout 71 regular-season Major League Soccer appearances, including 62 as a starter, he has recorded 17 goals and contributed nine assists.
