LuAnn Wennergren Quayle

LuAnn Wennergren Quayle returned home to her loving Heavenly Father on the morning of Friday, April 5 following an extended hospital stay and eventual stage four cancer diagnosis. She passed away at her home in Logan with her eternal companion, Dean Wendel Quayle, by her side.

LuAnn was born on June 30, 1941, into Oscar Claude Wennergren and Louise Shumway Wennergren’s loving home in North Logan. Throughout her childhood, she enjoyed strong relationships with her grandparents and cousins. She also had many adventures (some of them mischievous in nature) with the friends she had in the North Logan area, and these became fond memories for her to reflect on throughout her life.  

LuAnn first met her fellow forever student and eventual eternal companion, Dean, in the first grade at North Logan Elementary. Together they went on to attend South Cache High School in Hyrum, Utah and graduated from school and LDS Seminary in 1959.

LuAnn and Dean married after their first year of college. LuAnn became a mother to Kristi in 1961 and Staci in 1963. She then became an Air Force wife, and with Kristi and Staci in tow, the Quayle family left for a three-year assignment in what was then West Germany. It was there that Bret joined the family in 1965. With her natural skill for making conversation and building friendships, LuAnn had many friends supporting her during the times when she was solo parenting in Germany and beyond. During this time overseas, LuAnn and Dean also enjoyed many travels across Europe, from East Berlin and Holland to Italy, France, and Belgium.

After West Germany, Air Force life took LuAnn and Dean to Arizona, Texas, and California. Next was Montana, where Melissa completed their family of six in 1973.  They then moved to Colorado. After a few intermittent stays in Utah over the years (specifically during Dean’s 18 months in Vietnam), the family moved to Ogden, Utah to be stationed at Hill Air Force Base. Following Dean’s retirement from the Air Force, they moved to Logan, Utah to establish their final home just down the road from LuAnn’s parents.

Bret being born with Down syndrome in 1965 had a significant impact on LuAnn. In addition to caring for his respiratory issues and helping him overcome cancer in the first twenty years of his life, LuAnn became deeply involved in serving the special needs community in Cache Valley, working to put on special needs mutual activities and other events. She met many friends and acquaintances along the way.

Another significant event in LuAnn’s life was her Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in the 1990s. MS greatly affected her mobility and health for the rest of her life, but never put a damper on her positive outlook and sunny disposition.

LuAnn had several church callings throughout her life. She was a devoted visiting teacher, and she served with Dean on the Utah North Public Affairs Council, assisting in the creation of the Noon Music programs at the Logan tabernacle. She was also an active member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers. And anywhere she went and served, she made lifelong friends.

One of LuAnn’s great joys in life was spending time with the people she loved. Dean and LuAnn regularly hosted their daughters and their children and held “Cousin Dinner” on Sundays for their grandchildren attending Utah State University and any friends passing through. They also enjoyed playing games, traveling, and attending events around Cache Valley with their many friends.  

LuAnn was a thoughtful hostess, great cook, and everyone’s ultimate cheerleader. She never held back on giving love to all who entered her life; many who have entered Dean and LuAnn’s home over the years have remarked that the Quayles were second parents or grandparents to them.

LuAnn and Dean have fourteen grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren (with one on the way!). LuAnn is survived by her husband Dean and children Kristi (Bret) Vaterlaus (Boise, Idaho), Staci (Barrett) Larwin (Las Vegas, Nevada), Bret, and Melissa (Royce) McRae (Logan, Utah).  LuAnn was preceded in death by son-in-law Royce McRae and parents Louise Shumway and Claude Wennergren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 12, at 12 PM in the Yorkshire Ward chapel, 1585 North 400 West, Logan, Utah. Anyone who would like to watch the service remotely can do so on YouTube at https://youtube.com/live/h4KO1-fiq2k?feature=share.

There will be a viewing on Thursday, April 11 from 6-8 PM at Allen Mortuary of North Logan, 420 East 1800 North, Logan, Utah, and a viewing at the Yorkshire Ward building from 10:30 to 11:30 prior to the funeral services. Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the Quayle family asks that anyone who wishes to celebrate LuAnn’s life and honor her memory donate to the Cache Employment and Training Center (CETC), which empowers those with special needs to live their best lives.