Dwight Wesley Wernquist

The service for Dwight will be live streamed. Please click here to join us virtually: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi-MzaTAW44

Dwight was born on February 2, 1937 to Myrtle and Carl Wernquist at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, IL. On August 20, 1960, he and Barbara (nee Pierce) were married and recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. Children Lauryn (‘61) and Jonathan (‘74) were raised in Richmond, IL enjoying childhood in the country.

Dwight graduated from Chicago’s Senn High School, then attended North Park College, where he met Barbara. After marrying and graduating from Northwestern Dental School, they moved to Atlanta, Ga, where Dwight served in the Dental Corps at Ft. McPherson Army Base. Upon moving back to Illinois Dwight joined an existing dental practice in McHenry, Illinois. He was a longtime member of the McHenry Hospital Medical Group and the McHenry County Dental Society, where he served on the board and a term as president. He continued his private practice until retiring in 2015. Dubbed by his son-in-law, Lyndon, “the painless dentist,” he served the McHenry community for 5 decades with his gentle nature and sense of humor.

Central to Dwight’s life was his Christian faith, knowing Jesus Christ as his Savior. For 30 years he served in leadership roles in the Chain O’ Lakes Evangelical Covenant Church in Johnsburg, IL, where he and Barbara were charter members. Most recently the Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake was their church home.

Dwight was very involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He loved to laugh and was always ready to share a joke to make those around him smile. Together with Barbara he loved spending time in Door County, WI with their family. He loved old classic cars-collecting, going to car shows and searching the countryside with his son. A long time Cubs fan, growing up going to Wrigley Field, he shared that love with his family. He thoroughly enjoyed watching the 2016 team win the World Series, something he never thought he’d see in his lifetime.

His kindness, sense of humor, and generous spirit have been enjoyed by his family, friends, patients, and most recently by the loving staff at Golden Years Skilled Nursing Facility in Lake Geneva.

Dwight is survived by his wife Barbara Wernquist of Lake Geneva, WI, children Lauryn Keyes of Richmond, IL, and Jonathan and Liz Wernquist of Lake Geneva, WI, grandchildren Licia and Dave Radford, Laine and Bethany Keyes, Riley, Gavin, and Abigail Wernquist, and great-grandchildren Simon and Noah Radford. His son-in-law Lyndon Keyes preceded him in home-going.

Funeral service will be Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 1:30 PM at The Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake, 575 E. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake, IL 60014. A visitation and fellowship reception will immediately follow the service.