Harry J. Rydquist, age 68 of Fox Lake, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 10, 2009 at Hillside Manor surrounded by his family after a long battle with illness .

Harry was born on May 11, 1941 in Elgin, Illinois, and was the oldest of Ralph and Mary (Sullivan) Rydquist's nine children. He grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois and had the childhood that every kid dreams of having. He attended St. Thomas the Apostle elementary school and graduated from Crystal Lake Community High School in 1959.

On July 21, 1962 Harry married Kathleen Schneider at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Crystal Lake, Illinois. While most people want to 'follow their dream', Harry and Kathy followed a few. They owned and operated the Postville Store in Postville, Wisconsin in the early 1970's. They moved to Fox Lake in 1977 and operated Kuno Point Resort for about 20 years. They fulfilled their best dream by becoming the parents of two sons and two daughters. They loved each other and, while suffering the trials and tribulations of child-rearing, ended up with grown-up children of whom they are extremely proud. If they were picking best friends, it would be them. They have also been blessed with the worlds' greatest Mom, our wonderful brothers and sisters, and friends, especially the late William (Butch) Nulle and wife Linda of Woodstock, IL and Robert Pattee of Waupun.

If you asked Harry to define himself, he would say "I'm a lineman by trade". He worked all over the upper Midwest building transmission lines and substations. He was a journeyman lineman who took pride in his work and always strived to be the best. Driving through the countryside, he could tell you what he did to each pole or tower. He served as Union Steward for IBEW, Local Union 377.
Harry was an avid fisherman and enjoyed trading fish stories with customers and friends. He served on the board of the Fox Lake Property Owners for several years and worked for the formation of the Fox Lake Inland Lake District.

Harry is survived by his wife, Kathy; children; Ann (Michael) Hennigan, Cassville MO; Timothy (Karen) Rydquist, Menomonee Falls; Andrew (Karyn) Rydquist, Mukwonago; and Kathryn (Michael) Mertz, Beaver Dam; grandchildren; Kurtis and Bryan Klingbeil, Grace and Ashley Salazar, Mary Hennigan, Alexa Rydquist, Caitlin and Stephanie Gallagher, Nathan Mertz, Danielle (Rydquist) Breselow and Cory Rydquist; great-grandchildren; Alexa and Kurtis Klingbeil V; mother, Mary Rydquist, Crystal Lake, IL; brothers Robert and Richard Rydquist, Juneau; Mary (Ray) Metzger, Juneau; James (Marcia) Rydquist, Mt. Prospect, IL; Patricia (Paul) Hanson, St. Pete's. FL; Margaret (Greg) Heideman Richfield, IL; Daniel (Darcy) Rydquist, Juneau; David (special friend Martha) Rydquist, Beaver Dam; Patricia (Schneider) Kofsky, Roswell, GA; Fred (Kathy) Schneider, Scottsdale AZ; Donna (John) Schneider, DeSoto WI and many nieces and nephews.

Harry is preceded in death by his father, Ralph, grandson Anthony Klingbeil, nephew Steven Metzger, mother-in-law Golda Schaumburg, brother-in-law John Schneider and Baby Rydquist.

A Celebration of Life Service for Harry will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 1:00p.m. at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd. in Beaver Dam with Fr. Michael Wild officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of Service at 1:00p.m. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Fox Lake with a luncheon to follow at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Hillside Hospice in Beaver Dam.

Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family.