Dr. John "Jack" Robert Wightman
July 26, 1943 – December 5, 2024

Dr. John Robert Wightman, known to friends and family as "Jack," passed away peacefully on December 5, 2024, at the age of 81, surrounded by his children and loved ones in Minneapolis, MN. Jack was a generous, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. A visitation will be held at 2:30 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life service at 4 p.m. with a Masonic Service following, which will be held at Miller Funeral Home Southside on January 11, 2025.

Born on July 26, 1943, in St. Louis, MO, to Fred Noel Wightman and Martha Wightman, Jack grew up alongside his siblings, Rick, Fred, and Nancy. A proud Delta Tau Delta fraternity member, Jack began his academic journey at Oklahoma State University, earning a BS in pre-med in 1965. He completed his DDS at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1968, followed by an MS from the University of Texas in 1971 and his MPH from the University of Minnesota.

Jack married Jean Douglass on July 5, 1975, and they shared a deep love and partnership until her passing on January 15, 2003. Together, they raised two daughters, Meg (Ryan) Nimick and Laura (Grant) Griffith, and were blessed with four grandchildren. Becoming a grandfather brought Jack immense joy, and he treasured the time spent with his family.

Professionally, Jack was a respected dentist at Western Dental Center known for his expertise in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, as well as his work with TMJ and sleep apnea patients. Beyond his dental practice, Jack served in volunteer leadership roles and on various civic boards, including the Sheriff's Advisory Board, the Sioux Falls Multi-Cultural Center, the Sioux Falls branch of the NAACP, and Children's Care Hospital & School.

A talented and passionate artist, Jack was a wood carver and sculptor whose works, including the "Eternal Sentry" and "Liberty Lighting the World," can be found throughout Sioux Falls. He was also a dedicated member of the Sioux Falls community, supporting restoration projects in McKennan Park. A long-time practitioner of Freemasonry and member of Minnehaha Masonic Lodge #5, Jack participated in many Shrine Units, including the El Riad Shrine Chanters and El Riad Shrine Clown Unit as "Dodger the Clown."

Jack had a deep love for music, theater, opera, poetry, and traveling, and was known for his active role in local choirs and theater groups, including Shakespeare in the Park. A lifelong dog lover, he had profound respect and admiration for both animals and nature. He enjoyed being a naturalist, cook, collector of many things, and advocate for people and causes close to his heart.

Jack moved to Minneapolis in 2020 to be closer to his family, where he continued to make a memorable impact on those around him. His legacy lives on through his family, his contributions to the arts, and his tireless commitment to his community. Jack was truly one-of-a-kind. His generosity, kindness, and unique sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him.

Grateful for having shared his life are his daughters, Meg (Ryan) Nimick and their sons, Henry (3) and James (1); Laura (Grant) Griffith and their daughters, Natalie (9) and Clara (5)—all of Minneapolis, MN; his sister, Nancy (Jan) King of Lenexa, KS; sisters-in-law, Randi Wightman and Jackie Wightman of Tulsa, OK; brothers-in-law, Bruce Douglass of Traverse City, MI, and John Douglass of Toledo, OH; along with cherished nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

A Celebration of Life honoring Dr. Wightman will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 4:00 PM, with public visitation starting at 2:30 PM. The event will occur at Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD. 57108. The memorial service will also be live-streamed on Miller Funeral Home's YouTube page. To watch the service live, please click the link: Livestream Services for Dr. John Wightman

A private inurnment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, prior to the Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting live plants.