Longtime Dist. 301 English teacher dead at 61

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Marsha Zierk , a teacher at Central High School near Burlington, talks with students in October 2010 prior to a ceremony honoring her for increasing the amount of blood donated at the school. Zierk died last week at age 61. | File~Sun-Times Media

Updated: January 8, 2012 10:00PM

BURLINGTON ­— Hampshire resident Marsha Zierk once described herself as “a mom, coach, teacher and neighbor.”

She taught English at Central High School near Burlington for 37 years and once served as the president of the Central Education Association. She was an advocate for teachers and education on local and national levels. She had recently retired from teaching.

Zierk died in her home last Wednesday at the age of 61. Central School District 301 Superintendent Todd Stirn opened this week’s district board meeting with a tribute to her.

“I would like to recognize Marsha Zierk,” Stirn said. “She dedicated her entire teaching career here. I saw the emotional outpouring of teachers and students when they heard the news that she had died. She touched so many lives at the district.”

“She was very much a student-oriented person,” said Central High Principal Matthew Haug. “I had many conversations with her about how we can best serve the needs of the kids.”

When Haug learned of Zierk’s death, he called the Central High staff together before school started so that he could tell them what had happened. The moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance was dedicated to Zierk that day.

Zierk received the 2010 Best High School Blood Drive Coordinator Award from the Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers. She worked with Central High National Honor Society students and served as the school’s blood drive coordinator for seven years.

Illinois House Resolution 1446 honoring Zierk was introduced by state Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia, in the Illinois General Assembly in October 2010. According to Schmitz, Zierk organized more than 15 blood drives at Central High and collected more than 1,607 pints of blood.

Zierk’s two children, Jamie and David, both graduated from Central High School and now have children of their own.

Zierk earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. She is survived by her children, Jamie (Allen) Baumgartner of Maple Park and David (Carrie) Zierk of Elgin; five grandchildren: Alex, Jacob, Matthew, Kendell and Kallie; two sisters, Cheryl Brozenec of Elk Grove Village and Trudy (Tom) Sulita of Addison; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services have been held. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Marsha L. Zierk Education Fund, c/o Old Second Bank, P.O. Box 8018, Elburn, IL 60119.