Who is Kathleen Wirtz? Rocky Wirtz Ex-Wife

William Rockwell Wirtz was a renowned American businessman, celebrated for his role as the owner and chairman of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League until his demise. In this article, I will focus on his former wife, Kathleen Wirtz, from whom he separated in 2003.
Kathleen Wirtz is popularly known as the ex-wife of William Rockwell Wirtz (Rocky Wirtz), the fifth chairman of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
Her fame primarily comes from her marriage to Rocky Wirtz, an American business magnate, who tragically passed away on July 25, 2023, at the age of 70. The precise date of Kathleen’s marriage to Rocky is not publicly known. However, it is known that she was his first wife, and their marriage, which resulted in the birth of three children, ended with their divorce in 2003.

Kathleen Wirtz Early Life
Kathleen Wirtz, née Whiston, was born into the family of Jerome P. Whiston and Mary Whiston (née Liston) in March 1952 in Chicago, according to Chicago Tribune. (October 19, 1994). Her father sadly passed away in October 1994. Kathleen also has a sister named Mary Ellen. Notably, she married Williams Rockwell Wirtz before her father passed in 1994.
Details regarding Kathleen’s life are not widely available due to her decision to lead a private life, distanced from the prominence of her husband. As such, her biography is sparse. However, we will update this page with more information as soon as it becomes available.
Kathleen Wirtz chose to lead a life away from the public eye. She and her husband divorced in 2003 when she was 51 years old. It remains unclear whether she has remarried since their divorce. She reportedly married a man named Jack, who, hails from Chicago.
Kathleen Wirtz Children
Kathleen Wirtz’s marriage to Rocky Wirtz resulted in the birth of three children: Kendall Wirtz, Hillary Wirtz, and Daniel Wirtz, born in 1977. Their son, Danny Wirtz, is married to Anne and resides in Ukrainian Village. The couple has two children, Rosemary Wirtz, born in 2009, and Juniper Wirtz, born in 2012. Danny has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Chicago Blackhawks since December 16, 2020. Additionally, he serves as Vice Chairman in Breakthru’s executive leadership, holding seats on the company’s Board of Directors and Operating Committee.
Kendall Wirtz is married to Brendan Murphy, with their wedding taking place in Palm Beach, Florida, on May 20, 2017. Kendall, similar to her brother, also works at Breakthru. Hillary Wirtz is married to Erin-Aileen Quaglia, and she, too, is employed at Breakthru.
Following Kathleen and Rocky Wirtz’s separation, Rocky married Marilyn Wirtz, who remained his wife until his passing. Rocky and Marilyn had a daughter, Elizabeth Queen, who married Joe Barley.

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Kathleen Wirtz’s ex-Husband
Kathleen Wirtz’s ex-husband is William Rockwell Wirtz who died on July 25, 2023 at NorthShore Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Illinois, following brief illness.
William Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz (October 5, 1952 – July 25, 2023) was a prominent American businessman. He had four siblings: Peter Wirtz, Karey Wirtz, Gail Wirtz, and Alyson Wirtz. Rocky was the primary owner and chairman of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks and also served as the president of the Blackhawks’ parent company, the Wirtz Corporation headquartered in Chicago.
Under Rocky’s stewardship, the Chicago Blackhawks secured three Stanley Cup victories between 2010 and 2015, reinvigorating the team’s fanbase and significantly enhancing their on-ice performance. He also managed the Wirtz Corporation’s commercial and residential real estate entities, the wine and spirits distributor Breakthru Beverage Group, an insurance company, and banks in both Illinois and Florida.
In addition to his other ventures, Rocky was a co-owner of the United Center, the Blackhawks’ home arena, sharing ownership with Jerry Reinsdorf, the owner of the Chicago Bulls. Both Rocky and Reinsdorf served as co-chairs of the arena’s Executive Committee.