Francis "Frank" J. Murtha

Francis J. “Frank” Murtha, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, left us suddenly on Monday, October 19, 2026. He was born on October 24, 1944, in Yonkers, New York, the oldest son of the late Francis and Margaret (Duke) Murtha. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Murtha Roy.

Frank loved his family deeply, and will be missed by Debby, his wife of 37 years; his two children, Elizabeth Hankey and Matthew (Lisa) Murtha; their mother, Diane Meinardi Murtha; and his stepchildren, Elisabeth (Steve) Landt, William Wertz, and Catherine (Jay Siemiaszko) Wertz. He was blessed with ten grandchildren - Alex Murtha, Spencer (Ellie) Murtha, Henry Murtha, Mary Cate (Quentin Williams) Landt, Aidan (Rachel Mason) Landt, Delaney Landt, Tommy (Brooke) Landt, Colin Wertz, Ella Wertz, and Sebastian Zagornik – and one great-grandson, Xavier Williams. Frank’s brothers, Kevin (Lori) Murtha and Brian (Karen) Murtha, as well as his many nieces, nephews, and extended family will miss his extraordinary catalog of colorful and amazing stories.

Frank attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL, the University of Notre Dame (BA), and Northwestern University in Chicago (JD). His varied careers included work as an Assistant US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, a professional sports agent and an adjunct professor at Northwestern University. As a Notre Dame alum, he and Debby hosted legendary tailgates for decades.

He will be best remembered for his immediate willingness to help those he loved with any problem, no questions asked, as well as his deep sense of service, which he inherited from his father, a Teamster trying to better workers’ lives, and his mother, a nurse working to heal. Frank loved a crowd, and while he often commanded one, he loved listening and learning, especially about his heritage.

The visitation and funeral arrangements are as follows:

Visitation - Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Monday, October 26, 2026

Haase-Lockwood & Assoc. Funeral Homes

730 N. Wisconsin Street, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Visitation and Mass – Evanston, Illinois

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

St. John Henry Newman Parish at St. Joan of Arc Church

3698 Lyons Street, Evanston, Illinois

10:00 – 11:30 AM (Visitation)

11:30 AM (Mass)

Private Family Interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 N. Ridge Ave. Chicago, IL 60660. Online guest book is available at www.haaselockwoodfhs.com.

Please raise a glass of Diet Coke in a salute to Frank. Godspeed, Frank – Play like a Champion.