Wayne Carl Bergquist Jr.

Wayne Carl Bergquist, Jr., age 71, died peacefully after a prolonged illness, surrounded by loved ones on September 14, 2021 in Naples, FL. Wayne was born on September 6, 1950 in Duluth, MN to Wayne and Catherine Bergquist. He joined the US Air Force in 1968 and served until 1978 in Texas, Vietnam, Taiwan, Colorado and Germany. He moved to Naples in 1980 where he began a long career in the gunsmithing field and was known worldwide as one of the best 1911 pistolsmiths. He competed in several local, national and international USPSA tournaments and made friends all over the world. He retired in 2020. Wayne was married to the love of his life, Kathryn Tillman Bergquist, for over 41 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Sr. He is survived by his wife, daughter Susan Adamson and her husband Michael, son Wayne Bergquist III, daughter Melanie Hemingway and her husband Vince, son Timothy Bergquist and his wife Selene, son Michael Bergquist and daughter Jessica Aguilar and her husband Strat. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Carrie, David, Caleb, Elijah, Ethan, Katrina, Seth, Troy, Christina, Riley, Victoria, Michael, Carter, Eva, Jocelyn and 3 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Michael Bergquist and his wife Ann, sister Rose Preiner and her husband Jerry, several nieces and nephews and his mother, Catherine Bergquist. Wayne loved the outdoors and was an avid shooting competitor, hunter, fisherman and outdoor photographer. He was a kind and generous soul who always put his family first. He was fiercely devoted to them and they will miss him dearly. He had incredible strength in his battle against cancer and never gave up. We do not believe that cancer is a battle that is either won or lost. It is an oppression that one either overcomes or is rescued from. In the end, God was merciful and rescued him. A Funeral Service will take place on Monday, October 4th, 2021 at 2:00pm at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens (525 111th Ave. N. Naples, FL 34108).