Dr. Thomas E. Emmering, age 91, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, went to be with his Lord on Friday, April 23, 2021.  He was born October 22, 1929 in Oak Park, Illinois to Herbert and Winifred Emmering.

Tom grew up in Cicero and graduated from Morton East High School. He then attended the University of Illinois, served in the US Army during the Korean War, then returned to the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Dentistry, graduating in 1960.

He married LaVerne "Vernie" Battaglia on July 26, 1952, in Brookfield, IL.  They raised three children, David, Lynette, & Lauri, in Wheaton, where he had his first dental practice. Tom was the chairman of the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Radiology at Loyola University School of Dentistry, 1970-1986. He joined Associates for Family Dentistry in Bloomingdale in 1988, retiring in 2015. He served as the President of the International College of Dentists, President of the ICD Foundation, and President of Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity. He was a member of the American Dental Association, the Chicago Dental Society, President of DuPage County Dental Association, and a member of the Wheaton Study Club.

Tom served on the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicagoland for fifteen years and was awarded the National UCP Award for Excellence for Outstanding Community Service in 2006. He co-sponsored the Doctors Tom UCP Benefit and Endowment Fund for thirty years. "Doc" as he was affectionately known, travelled and served on many medical mission trips to Belize and Mexico.

He actively served in the community and was a board member of Outreach Community Ministries. He was a longtime member of Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church and previously a member of Cicero Bible Church.  He was a talented singer, performing with "The Silvertones" and "the Crusaders Quintet". He also enjoyed painting and woodworking and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, LaVerne "Vernie", two daughters, Lynette (Dr. Ira) Zohn of New Jersey, and Lauri (Keith) Schroeder of Illinois. He also leaves behind five grandchildren: Darin, Steven, David, Dylan, Briana, and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, David, and his parents.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187. A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Gardens West in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church , the Kort/Emmering Diagnostic Imaging Technology Fund at U of I Dental School (designation under Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences) or United Cerebral Palsy .

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.