- Date Of Birth: August 20, 1934
- Date Of Death: March 12, 2013
- State: Illinois
Jack Wirtz, 78, of Ottawa, died Tuesday night, March 12, 2013, at his home at Pleasant View.
Jack was born on August 20, 1934, in Chicago, to Anthony J. and Alida (Freund) Wirtz. He grew up in McHenry and attended McHenry High School and earned the Eagle Scout Badge. He received a Masters degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana. He served in the United States Army where he played in the United States Army Band in Fort Chaffe, Arkansas for two years. He married Catherine Mary Freund on June 20, 1956, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg. He taught Orchestra at Springfield, IL schools for two years and Elgin High School for eleven years including one European Concert tour.
From 1971- 1989 he taught at Oak Park-River Forest High School as Department Head and Orchestra Director. The orchestra performed in eight European Concert Tours. He was a member of St. Columba Catholic Roman Catholic Church in Ottawa. He had been a member, and past-secretary of the Ottawa Noon Rotary Club. He is survived by his wife, Catherine of Ottawa; four children, Raymond J. (Julie) Wirtz of Schaumburg, Jeffrey A. (Kathy)Wirtz of Oak Park, Mark H.( Diane) Wirtz of Selinsgrove, PA and Mary C. (Cary) Shinsako of Oak Park; fourteen grandchildren and three great –grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
