Theresa A. Panek

Theresa Ann Panek (Terri) died Thursday, July 17, 2014 at the age of 75 in Gurnee, IL. She is survived by her spouse of 55 years, Ronald Panek and her three children Michelle, Kimberly, Donald and his wife Jer Ri as well as her grandchildren Adam, Abigail, Brandon, Carly and Drake. Born in 1939 to George and Mary (Guttmann) Ruhnke in Chicago, IL, Terri was the oldest of 4 children, Rita, Judith and George. She attended grade school at St. Aloysius and high school at Josephinum Academy. After graduating from high school, she married Ronald Panek in 1958 where she developed lifelong loving relationships with Ronald's siblings Annette and Joseph and their spouses Richard and Mary, respectively. Terri lived in Chicago, Berwyn and Naperville, IL. Terri was an intelligent, vibrant and creative woman devoting time to Junior Achievements, playing the piano and the organ, oil painting and Bunko with her neighbors. She was a fixture for many years at the Institute for Philosophical Research, working as the treasurer, bookkeeper and administrator for the renowned Mortimer J. Adler. Terri then moved on to work in the legal department at Waste Management, where she was inspired to return to school and get her degree as a paralegal at the age of 63. From there, she worked at DuPage Medical Group in various capacities where she ultimately was the head of the risk management department until she retired in 2010. Terri will be remembered as the champion to defend and support those she loved with tireless ferocity. She was the source of a wealth of wisdom, providing insightful advice and life lessons. Her devotion to her family was precious and deep. Many have known her to be a woman possessing the quick wit, sarcasm and mental acuity to spar with the most formidable lawyers and brilliant doctors. This only made her suffering with dementia that much more tragic in her final months under the loving care of her daughter, Kimberly. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 25 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm at Marsh Funeral Home, 305 N. Cemetery Rd., Gurnee, IL 60031. Mass will be held on Saturday, July 26 at 11:00 am at St. Paul the Apostle Church at 6401 Gages Lake Rd., Gurnee, IL 60031. in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Theresa's name to support dementia research with Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or to support hospice with Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care Center at 2050 Claire Ct., Glenview, IL 60025