Dorothea "Dorothy" Wernz

Dorothea “Dorothy” Wernz, 94, of West Union, IL, passed away on June 1, 2025, at Robinson Rehab & Nursing in Robinson, IL. Born on November 26, 1930, near Humboldt, IL, Dorothy grew up in the midst of the Great Depression—a time that shaped her with a deep sense of resilience, a quiet strength, and a work ethic that simply never quit.

From her earliest days on the farm, she learned what it meant to give of herself—without fuss, without fanfare, and without asking for anything in return. She graduated from Hutsonville in 1948 and married Bob Wernz that same year. Together, they built a life grounded in farming, faith, and family—a life where love wasn’t something spoken so much as it was lived.

Dorothy was small in stature, but she was a force of nature. She could milk 40 head of cows before the sun was fully up, carry buckets of feed without a complaint, and drive a tractor with the same quiet confidence she brought to everything she did. Day in and day out, she took to every chore with care and never shied away from the hard work it took to provide for her family.

In the middle of that life, she raised a home full of children—sometimes with babies in a playpen while she finished chores, always with enough love and enough food to go around. In feeding others, she found her own quiet, steady joy—her fulfillment in seeing her table full and her loved ones cared for. Every dish she made was an offering, a testament to how she lived: with a selfless love that never ran out.

Dorothy never asked for recognition. She wasn’t one to say how hard she worked or how much she gave—she just did it. Her kindness was sincere. Her selflessness was unwavering. And her faith was the wellspring from which everything else flowed.

Though Dorothy served faithfully as her church’s treasurer, song leader, and Sunday School teacher, her faith was never confined to any one lesson or role. It was displayed in the quiet way she lived her life—through every sacrificial act of love and every moment of selfless service. She didn’t just teach faith—she embodied what it looks like to follow Jesus. Her Spirit-led life made everyone around her want to live a little more like her—more kind, more patient, more full of grace. In this way, the life she lived so faithfully will keep echoing forward—until that day comes when, by the grace of God, we see her again.

Dorothy is survived by her children & their spouses, John Wernz, Don & Mona Wernz, Les & Karen Wernz, Barbara & John Webster, and Mark & Joy Wernz; her grandchildren & their spouses, Tabi & Mike Knecht, Dustin & Julia Wernz, Joy & Sean Yen, True & Jaclyn Wernz, Jaryd & Brittney Webster, Dylan & Amanda Webster, Paige & Aiden Hardig, Nathan Wernz, and Luke Wernz; her great-grandchildren & spouses, Dakota & Sam Murphy, Kienan & Harli Knecht, Alex Wernz, AJ Wernz, Sam Wernz, Aubrey Webster, Emily Webster, Delaney Webster, Jonelle Webster, Jamie Yen, Maggie Yen, and Emmett Wernz; her great-great-grandchildren, Atlas Knecht and Aria Knecht; her sister, Kathryn Walsh; her sister-in-law, Reta Bumpus; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Neal Bumpus & Mildred (Niemeyer) Bumpus; her husband of 71 years, Robert “Bob” Wernz; her son, Chris Wernz; her daughter-in-law, Linda Wernz; her granddaughter, Kindal Wernz Kivisto; her sister, Jean Buckner; her brother, Richard Bumpus; and numerous beloved extended family members and friends.

A time of visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6th, at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 7th, at the funeral home with Bro. Billie Ray Ulrey officiating. Memorials may be made to either the “Ohio Chapel Church” or to the “Ohio Cemetery,” and memorial envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the Ohio Cemetery.