Edward F. Wilt

McHENRY – Edward F. Wilt Jr., M.D., 85, of McHenry, died Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at Centegra Hospital – McHenry.

He was born Sept. 12, 1925, in Chicago, to Edward Sr. and Mary (Manarik). On April 11, 1953, he married Marie T. Vilona at Resurrection Church.

A veteran of the U.S. Army from 1943-46, he served in the 86th Infantry Division (Blackhawk) and the Third Army (General Patton's Army). After service in the European Theater, he fought in the Pacific Theater. He received a combat infantry badge, combat service medal, expert rifleman badge, Good Conduct Medal, the Commemorative Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal. He was the recipient of a Bronze Star for his unit's combat in Germany.

After his military service, he began his collegiate education at the University of Chicago and received his Bachelor of Arts in biology in 1948. Continuing his studies at the University of Chicago, he obtained his M.D. in 1953.

Upon completion of his studies at the University of Chicago, he performed his internship and later his internal medicine residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Recognized for the quality of his work at Henry Ford Hospital, he received the award of Chief Resident of the Year for 1957-58.

He practiced medicine in McHenry from 1959-95, specializing in internal medicine and gastroenterology. Other areas of interest included geriatric and home nursing care. Active on the medical staff of Northern Illinois Medical Center, posts included serving as chairman of the Department of Medicine, president of the Medical Staff, and chairman of the Medical Education Committee.

He received Board Certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1962, and was re-certified in 1966. In 1974, he pursued postgraduate education at the University of Illinois' School of Public Health, earning a master's degree in public health (MPH) in 1976. He became a fellow of the American College of Physicians in 1976.

Since 1985, he was affiliated with the Department of Medicine of the University of Illinois' College of Medicine (Rockford), serving first as clinical instructor and then clinical assistant professor. He also was the medical director for the General Medicine Teaching Rotation for the U of I/NIMC program.

He attained many "firsts" for McHenry County during his career, being the first board-certified physician in internal medicine, the first president of the McHenry County Board of Health, and the first director of medical education at NIMC. He also was the founder and first president of the McHenry County Civil War Round Table.

Active with the McHenry County Medical Society, he served as president and was program chairman for 15 years. He was the president of the Illinois Association of Boards of Health and served as president of the McHenry County Board of Health for 14 years. He was a member of American Legion Post 2910.

Most recently, he was chairman of the Health Access Committee for McHenry County and volunteered at the Family Health Partnership Clinic practicing Internal Medicine.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Marie; three children, Carol M. (Martin) Perenchio of Crystal Lake, Timothy (Kristie Ensrud, M.D.) Wilt, M.D., of Minneapolis and Peter (Ann) Wilt of Whitefish Bay, Wis.; five grandchildren, Bryan, Evan, Kathleen, Grete and Ingrid; a brother, William (Barbara) Wilt of Alsip; a sister, Leona Bodin of Oak Lawn; and a sister-in-law, Jean Wilt of Glenview.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Dr. James Wilt.

The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 24, at Justen Funeral Home & Crematory, 3700 W. Charles J. Miller Road, McHenry. The visitation will resume 9 a.m. until prayers are said at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at the funeral home before leaving in procession for the funeral Mass celebration. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in McHenry. Interment will be in St. Patrick Countryside Cemetery, McHenry.

For those wishing to send an expression of condolence, memorials are suggested by his family to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table for the Dr. Edward F. Wilt Jr. Scholarship Fund, in care of Jim Keefe, Treasurer, 1256 Mitchell St., Woodstock, IL 60098.

For information, call the funeral home at 815-385-2400. Send the family an online condolence at www.justenfh.com.