Anne Elizabeth Murk

Anne Elizabeth Murk, devoted spouse of Virgil Murk, mother to Barbara Meyer, David, and Susan Wetzel passed away peacefully in her home with family at her side on Friday September 11, 2020. Anne was born in Middlesbrough, England in 1923. Her father, Thomas Wynne moved the family back to his native Ireland in 1926. She was the oldest girl in a family of seven. Her mother, Beatrice (Lowe) Wynne, passed away when Anne was twelve years old. This began a lifetime of giving and generosity for Anne. After helping her dad care for her six siblings, Anne answered the call for nurses during World War II. She finished nurses’ training in Bristol and cared for R.A.F and American soldiers in London and Bristol, spending many nights in the underground stations during bombing raids. After the war was over, Anne scrimped and saved for a voyage to her cousins in Topeka, Kansas. She boarded a ship in Liverpool bound for Halifax in 1948. Standing on the gangplank was a handsome, charming GI returning from Europe named Virgil. They started a relationship on board ship and were never separated for long after that. Virgil and Anne were married in Denver in April of 1950. Anne & Virgil’s giving spirit continued when they adopted their three children from Ireland. Once the children were older, Anne returned to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elgin. She then was persuaded to give her time to U-46’s special ed. program at Udina & Independence schools. Anne was an integral part of those schools, initiating many new programs and loved those children as if they were her own. During all these years, Anne and Virgil volunteered for many different religious, civic and educational organizations. Anne and Virg retired from U-46 in 1988 but the selfless life continued as they made twice a year trips to St. Joseph’s Hospice in London to help her sister, Mary. Mary Wynne, an occupational therapist and nun at the hospice kept Anne and Virgil busy doing day trips, fundraising and crafting with the hospice patients. In 2001, Anne and Virgil moved to Huntley and found a new neighborhood family on Hickory Ct. There were many block holiday dinners and Thursday cocktail street gatherings. They continued trips to London but also visited numerous other destinations in Europe and Asia. Anne found great pleasure in gardening and a membership in the Del Webb gardening club. Exercise was always important to Anne and Virgil as they walked for miles and swam at the pool daily. Her greatest joy was attending numerous soccer, baseball, football, dance and theater programs of her nine grandchildren. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many and will be deeply missed. She leaves behind her family and a circle of devoted friends. Her family includes her three loving children, Barbara (Steve) Meyer of Mooresville, North Carolina, David Murk of Algonquin, Susan (Rick) Wetzel of Glendale Heights, her cherished grandchildren; Ben Meyer, Shannon (Gregory) Meyer-Hagel, Andrea (Richard) Haines, Mollie, Sophie, Isabella, and Owen Murk and Christopher and Jamie Wetzel, and her two great-grandchildren, Grian and Declan Hagel. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 AM on Monday, Sept. 21, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Rd. There will be no visitation at church, please go directly into church, masks will be required. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Grafton Food Pantry, Huntley Illinois or Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley.

Anne Elizabeth Murk

December 28, 1923 - September 11, 2020