William "Bill" Dwyer Jr.

CRYSTAL LAKE – William "Bill" Dwyer Jr., 83, of Crystal Lake, passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2011, in Elgin.
He was born in Chicago to William Sr. and Mabel Dwyer.
He graduated from De LaSalle Institute and attended DePaul University. He is a veteran of the Korean War, stationed at Fort Meade, Md. After his military service, he went on to work for Celotex and Masonite corporations before starting his own business, Bilmar Co., in 1970.
He and his family moved to Crystal Lake in 1973. Always a man with a positive attitude, he became very active in the community. He was a member of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce and later became a chamber ambassador. He was elected to the McHenry County Board in 1990 and served 10 years as transportation chairman, responsible for the building of Rakow Road. He was a leader in the formation of the McHenry County Road Coalition.
But his true love was Crystal Lake. One of his finest achievements was as co-founder of the Crystal Lake Gala, a place where family and friends could gather to celebrate the Fourth of July. He was chairman for five years.
He was past president of the Crystal Lake Country Club and loved his golf (sometimes). He received the Crystal Lake Jaycees Lifetime Award for community service and the Carl Wehde Community Service Award. He also was a member of the McHenry County Enterprise Club.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, where he served as an usher.
His proudest achievement was the creation of the Raue Center for the Arts, for which he worked tirelessly and served as president for 10 years and later as chairman emeritus.
In May 2009, he was honored by the city of Crystal Lake by having a street named "Bill Dwyer Way."
But above all was his love of family and friends.
He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Joyce (Grismer); his children, Daniel Dwyer, Robert (Renee) Dwyer, Mary Krikorian, Maureen (Stephen) Regele, Thomas O'Connor and Daniel O'Connor; his grandchildren, Chris (Melissa) Dwyer, Blake (fiancée Meagan Fenwick) Dwyer, Dylan Dwyer, Cameron Dwyer, Joseph Krikorian, Elyse Krikorian, Kelley Regele, Megan Regele and Katherine Regele; and a great-granddaughter, Delanee Dwyer.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marjorie (Reedy) Dwyer; a daughter-in-law, Christine Owen; his parents; and a twin brother, Robert Dwyer.
The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 13, at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. (Route 176), Crystal Lake. Transfer prayers will be said at the funeral home at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, proceeding to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake, for the 10:30 a.m. celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, IL 60014-4404.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.davenportfamily.com. For information, call the funeral home, 815-459-3411.