Barbara Jeanne Wiggins

1938 - 2025

Barbara Jeanne (Pratt) Wiggins
Born: October 2, 1938 in Kewanee
Died: October 3, 2025 in Dixon, IL
Barbara Jeanne (Pratt) Wiggins, 87, of Dixon, Illinois, died among family at peace in her home on October 3, 2025.
She was born in Kewanee, Illinois on October 2, 1938 to Laurence and Martina (Fuerst) Pratt, the youngest of five children. Barb attended Weathersfield High School, where she represented the Flying Geese, playing tuba in the marching band. After graduating, she began work as a clerk at Commonwealth Edison, where she met Harold "Bull" Wiggins. They were united in marriage on November 8, 1959 and had four sons whom she loved to keep in line as they kept her on her toes.
Barb was an involved member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dixon, Illinois, where she played the organ, worked in the church office, and quilted. She was known for her talent and dedication as lead organist, proudly playing several services weekly for nearly six decades. Her family enjoyed hearing her practice songs on her living room piano. Barb first played piano accompaniment for weddings at the young age of fourteen and continued on to beautifully play hundreds more.
Barb was a lifelong farmer - she was not only the wife of a farmer, but ran the farm herself. She raised hogs, cultivated the land, planted beans and corn, and harvested crops - pridefully wearing her farmer's tan and the dirt of her open cab tractor.
Barb played bowling leagues for decades and has a basement full of trophies to prove it. She was a talented seamstress; tailoring dresses, suits, and military uniforms for family and friends. She was a regular at Dixon Public Library, where she was known to read several books within days, quickly returning for more. She was incredibly smart and warmly direct. Barb knew exactly how she felt about most things and didn't wait for you to ask before she shared her opinions. She was lovingly stern and admirably certain.
Barb was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, and Chicago Bulls. On the rare occasion she had to miss the televised game, she was certain to listen on her handheld radio. If only the coaches could have heard her advice, Illinois teams would be leading every league! Barb also enjoyed watching her grandchildren play sports and instruments alike. She proudly attended every game, concert, graduation, and ceremony.
Barb was fiercely loved by her family. She was the gold standard; the cream of the crop; the matriarch that held everything and everyone together with grace. She will be remembered, celebrated, and missed beyond measure.
There was no better way to meet Barb Wiggins than to hear her laugh through a game of cards. No matter the game - Solitaire, Euchre, Blitz, Hearts - she would likely win every time. In addition to playing her own hand, she loved to tell you how to play your hand - and she, of course, was always right. Her family made sure she passed with a deck of cards in her hands.
Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Harold "Bull"; her parents, Laurence and Martina Pratt, Dixon; her brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and MaryAnn Pratt, Dixon; her sisters, Mary Ann Wager, Kewanee, and sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Bob Kurzrock, Michigan; brother-in-law Jack Mulholland, Barrington.
She is survived by sister, Donna Mulholland, Barrington; brother-in-law Walter Wager, Kewanee; many nieces and nephews; four sons, Jeff (Sandra) Wiggins, Texas; John (Danette) Wiggins, Franklin Grove; Jim (Lisa) Wiggins, Dixon; and Joe (Shamid) Wiggins, New York; 11 grandchildren, Ryan (Nicole) Varga, Dixon; Jeff (Jenni) Varga, Petersburg; Seth (Sami) Wiggins, Dixon; Lindsey (Allen) Parrish, Urbana; Karli Fitzsimmons, Urbana; Connor (Meggie) Fitzsimmons, Iowa; Josh Wiggins, New Mexico; Jamyson (Devin) Castillo, Virginia; Dakota Trancoso, Colorado; Justin (Madison) Wiggins, Dixon; Jared (Kayty) Wiggins, Dixon; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A Visitation will be held from 9:00 am until the time of the Funeral Service at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dixon, with Pastors Anthony Windau and Riley Reed-Windau, co-officiating. A Graveside Service will be to follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Dixon. Food, refreshments, and gathering at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dixon, will be to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Immanuel Lutheran Church may be made in Barb's honor.
Arrangements were completed by Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon.
Condolences may be sent to www.prestonschilling.com.