JoAnn Werr

JoAnne Marie Werr, née Kopp, 91, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at her home
surrounded by her family. JoAnne was born on January 27, 1933, in Chicago to her loving parents Charles
and Marie Kopp. She grew up on the south side of Chicago as the eldest of four sisters with grandparents,
cousins, aunts, and uncles living nearby. She spent her summers in Ironwood, Michigan, visiting her
mother's family. JoAnne and Chuck continued the yearly visits to Ironwood to see her aunts and uncles by
taking their kids, and sometimes nieces and nephews, skiing every Thanksgiving.
JoAnne graduated from St. Louis Academy in Chicago, then went to secretarial school and had a
wonderful career as a legal secretary in Chicago. As a young woman, she traveled to Europe and belonged
to the St. Margaret's Young People's Club when she met the love of her life at a communion breakfast in
her backyard. After five years of dating, she married Chuck Werr at the age of 30. JoAnne and Chuck had
five kids in five years and three days, and she was a wonderful mother and wife. She was a resident of
Northbrook for 30 years, and was a member of Our Lady of the Brook's women's guild for more than 40
years. JoAnne was an avid volunteer in many ways, working for soup kitchens and food pantries, visiting
and helping the sick and going to adoration for Marytown Chapel.
Jo Anne loved to cook for her family, pick wildflowers and blueberries, go on day trips, and host large
family parties. She loved to travel and went on vacations every year. She skied Vail, sailed the Caribbean,
beached in the Bahamas, and visited Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, to name a few.
JoAnne continued her career as an office manager after her children were grown. She then moved to
Libertyville where she joined a book club, continued her volunteering, and cared for her growing family.
She spent her summers with her family in Long Beach, Indiana, with plenty of trips for ice cream with her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
JoAnne was an extraordinary friend; she knew the importance of staying in touch with friends from all
the stages of her life and spoke with many of them this past year. JoAnne was an amazing aunt, cousin,
neighbor, and second mom to so many. She touched and influenced so many people's lives, and her
legacy of kindness will live on through those she loved. We have been truly blessed to have her in our
lives.
Surviving are her husband of 61 years, Charles Werr; five children, Mary Jo (Steve) Haubrich, Meg
(Doug) Dicks, Katie (John) Han, Charlie (Anne) Werr, and Jennifer (Tom) Schnefke; 16 grandchildren,
Heidi (Jordan) Fylling, Stevie (Katie) Haubrich, Robert Haubrich, Ashley (Cole) Griffin, Kalie Dicks,
Dan Dicks, John Han, Keri Han, Ella Schnefke, Trey Werr, Clarie Schnefke, Krystofer Han, Zoe Werr,
Anna Schnefke, Jacquelyn Han, and William Schnefke; six great-grandchildren, River, Ridge, Raney, and
Rhodes Fylling, and Lillian and Evelyn Haubrich; and her sisters, Kathleen (late Ed) Brown, Faye (Ken)
Schroeder, and the late Janet (Wayne) Allen and her cousin Nancy DenBesten.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park
Ave., Libertyville. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, at St. Joseph Catholic
Church, 121 E. Maple Ave., Libertyville. Memorials can be made to Lurie Children's Hospital. Please
share a memory at www.burnettdane.com Info: 847-362-3009.