MCJC Loses Two Old Friends
MCJC recently lost two long-time members and friends with the passing of Herb Franks and Willa Wertheimer.
Herbert H. Franks, who passed away on Oct. 31 at the age of 89, was a founding member of MCJC, and one of its biggest supporters. Herb was many things to many people. As it notes on his tombstone, he was a farmer, lawyer, and visionary. He liked to say he was just a pig farmer from Marengo, but his status and contacts extended far beyond McHenry County to the halls of the US Congress. Many dignitaries attended and spoke at his funeral, including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin who flew in from DC the night before the funeral to eulogize his old friend.
To the members of MCJC, Herb was a congregational patriarch. He could be found “ruling the roost” on the back bench of the sanctuary during the High Holidays surrounded by his family. His d’var Torah on Jonah on Yom Kippur was an annual favorite. Herb was a regular “minyanaire” on Saturday mornings, and he would frequently round up a group of fellow worshipers to join him for lunch after services. Herb did not suffer fools, and his wisdom, which he dispensed liberally, was often spiked with profanity. Forgivably old school, he loved to hug the ladies. He was generous to his congregation and to the Jewish community. He made it a priority to establish a Jewish cemetery in McHenry County and then made it happen. Herb now rests in the cemetery he and his beloved wife, Eileen, established in Woodstock.
Willa Wertheimer died too soon, on Dec. 3 at the age of 59. She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, leiomyoma sarcoma, in 2006, but it didn’t keep her from living a full life. She was a well-respected clinical psychologist who specialized in treating adults and children who experienced trauma. She worked up until her final weeks of life.
Willa had two sons, Maitiu and Liam, and a husband, Ed Groenendal, all of whom adored her, and she adored them in return. Willa was first and foremost a mother, noted Rabbi Gordon in her eulogy at Willa’s funeral, though she had many talents including painting, scrapbooking, cooking, and writing poetry. According to Ed, Willa was in equal measures analytical, creative, and emotionally intelligent; a rare combination. Her sons and family members remarked on her wickedly witty sense of humor that she displayed even in her final days. And many at the funeral remarked on her smarts and innate compassion that made her an effective therapist.
A military honor guard saluted and performed taps for Willa at her funeral, in recognition of the many traumatized local veterans Willa served and saved. Willa’s final resting place is near Herb’s, in the McHenry County Jewish Cemetery.
May their memories be for a blessing.