William Fenton "Bill" Wadsworth

1927 - 2024

William "Bill" Fenton Wadsworth
Born: September 17, 1927 in Dixon, IL
Died: August 6, 2024 in Dixon, IL
William (Bill) Fenton Wadsworth, 96, of Dixon, died Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at Heritage Square in Dixon. Active in the community for much of his life, he worked at Raynor Garage Doors for 41 years, retiring as vice president of manufacturing in 1990.
Bill was born September 17, 1927, in Dixon, IL, a fifth-generation Dixonite and the oldest son of William Herbert and Ruth (McClanahan) Wadsworth. After graduating from Dixon High School in 1945 and serving three years in the United States Navy, he married Sue Prewitt on April 2, 1949. After her death in 1995, he married Carol Ortgiesen on June 14, 1997.
He started as a draftsman and the first employee in the engineering department at Raynor in 1948 and was later promoted to assistant plant superintendent in 1960 and to vice president of manufacturing in 1969. He served on the Raynor management team from 1969 until his retirement in 1990.
He was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church in Dixon, first at St. Paul's and then at Immanuel Lutheran for about 50 years. He often served in leadership roles at church and at many local nonprofit organizations, such as the Dixon Community Chest (the precursor to the United Way of Lee County), Boy Scouts of America, the Dixon Industrial Council, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center, Ronald Reagan Trail Association, Reagan Trail Days, and the Dixon Public School District Foundation. In 2002, he and Carol were the recipients of Dixon's Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2008, they received the Ronald Reagan Legacy Award.
He enjoyed scuba diving and annual Canadian fishing trips with good friends like Wendell Snell, who has been a close friend for over 70 years. Inspired by their scuba diving experiences, Bill authored a book with Wendell's assistance, titled, "The Wrasse Family of Fishes," featuring Bill's creative drawings of fictional wrasses.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Wadsworth of Dixon; three sons, Tim (Vikki) Wadsworth of Dixon; Tom (Nancy) Wadsworth of Dixon, and Tony (Debra) Wadsworth of Rockford, IL; two stepchildren, Gaye (Bill) Miller of Plover, WI, and John Ortgiesen of San Diego, CA; five grandchildren, one step-grandchild, and 12 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-step-granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, three brothers, Wilson (1923), Richard (1933), Jim (Karen) Wadsworth (2023), a granddaughter, Rachael Wadsworth (2014), and a step grandson, Matthew Miller (2022).
A Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of the Funeral Service at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dixon, with Pastor Mark Juliot, officiating. After cremation rites have been accorded, his ashes will be scattered in a private family service at the family farm north of Grand Detour.
Instead of flowers, he requested that donations be given to the Sue Wadsworth Youth Fund at Immanuel Lutheran in Dixon.
Arrangements were completed by Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon.
Condolences may be sent to www.prestonschilling.com.