Sharon Lee Kurth

Sharon Lee Kurth, nee Ruck, resident of Loves Park, IL, passed away Friday, May 3, 2024, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Mrs. Kurth was 66 years old.

She was born November 17, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois. She spent her childhood in Buffalo Grove, IL, and attended Wheeling High School. After moving to Elgin, Sharon graduated from Elgin High School, and studied Early Childhood Education at Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale. Sharon worked as a mortgage underwriter for over 30 years and retired from Chase Bank.

Sharon married Norbert Kurth on September 19, 2004, in Elgin, joined by family and many friends. Sharon and Norbert made their home in Elgin, where it was featured on the Elgin House Walk. Most recently, they moved to Loves Park. The couple loved their cats, Emo and Parker, and Jake and Elwood. Sharon and Norbert loved to travel and visited many places in the U S. They also spent some time in Germany and Ireland. Sharon continued work on her family’s genealogy, begun by her late mother, Ann Mueller. Sharon also enjoyed reading, cooking and baking, photography, and loved attending music venues of all kinds, especially Blues. Sharon and Norbert loved great food and great spirits. She supported the humane treatment of all animals, but especially cats and birds. 

Sharon is survived by her most loving husband and soulmate, Norbert; her sister, Barbara Mertes; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gerry and Joanne Kurth, her brother-in-law Art Kurth. 

Sharon took an active interest in the lives of her many nieces and nephews, who she loved very much. Angela and Shane Howell and their daughters Grace and Lily; Patrick and Athena Mertes,and their children Earen and Illyana; Jessica Higginbotham and her children Morgan, Chloe, Jordan, Zoe and J.J; Pamela and Tim Tofil and their children, Gideon, Elijah and Nicholas; Darren and Cynthia Kurth and their daughters, Analiese, Ava and Meadow; Rebecca Kurth and her daughter, Billie Grace.

Sharon is also survived by her besties of over 50 years (AKA her “Posse”), Beth, Val, Kim, and Rita, and Cheryl, her friends and roommates before Norbert.

There are none like you, ladies!

She was preceded in death by her biological father, John M. Ruck; her parents, Raymond and Ann Mueller; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Evelyn and Henry Kurth; her sister-in-law, Pat Kurth; her brother-in-law, Ray Mertes; and Renate Hoeltge.

A Celebration of Sharon’s Life will be held at a later date.

Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory has assisted the family. Please share online condolences at fitzgeraldfh.com.