Jennifer Murphy

Jennifer Christine (Hagen) Murphy, 78, passed away at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL, on Thursday, August 6, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mary (Brock) Hagen and her sister, Sharon Brock. She met her husband, Charles Murphy, on a blind date in Jacksonville, IL. They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary this past June.

Mrs. Murphy was a passionate teacher, a lover of the written word, well read with an extensive personal library from Dr. Seuss to Dickens, Caldecott Award Winners considered a close friend. As a child she loved ordering books from the state library in Springfield, waiting with anticipation as the mailman came to her farm with the prized possessions. Jenny graduated from Brussels High School in 1966, received her bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in Macomb in 1971. With certificates in five different areas of special education, she began her teaching career at Jefferson Elementary in Jacksonville, IL. She also taught in elementary schools in Calumet City, IL. Peotone, IL. Springfield, IL. and the Sangamon County Area Special Education District (SASED). Her boys grew up on personal pan pizzas from the yearly "Book It" program which Pizza Hut undoubtedly lost money on.

Jenny is a 4H award recipient in Calhoun County and Blue Ribbon Award Winner at the annual Will County Fair, Master Naturalist, novice ornithologist, excellent from scratch cook, with a love of baking passed down from her Mom and best friend, Mary Hagen. It was common to find Christmas stolens and cinnamon rolls rising over a heat register, butter set out for cookies, an angel food cake cooling upside down, and her coconut cream pie that was genuinely second to none. For decades her parents, in-laws, siblings, children, neighbors, and of course Chuck were the recipients of her gifts that transcend time, providing an existential benefit that far surpasses anything purchased.

Some of Grammy’s favorites: trimming and watering her houseplants, hunting morels, cracking black walnuts, planting a garden, hydrangeas, raising her 3 boys, NPR radio with Terry Gross while preparing dinner, homemade pie crust, PBS, cold watermelon in August after judging can openers from the high dive at Colony West, the value of education- both academically as a college graduate herself with advance certificates in Special Ed, but as well the education life awards us from setting meringue, the hard crack stage of peanut brittle, cutting firewood in the cold, canning, preserving, & being self reliant & independent. Jenny loved art work too; drawing, painting, ceramics, she valued a well rounded art kit far more than designer clothes. Those of us who know her the best have spent time sitting at the kitchen table drawing, making ornaments, doing homework (whether they liked it or not), The West Branch Library, and being encouraged to “sound-it-out” while reading stories before bedtime.

Mom loved the smell of wood smoke on a winter night, flannel sheets, geranium leaves, full moon cycles, owls calling back and forth, the value of a good walk, the acceptance of dogs, sitting in the barn with animals, betterboy tomatoes, the way a loyal cat sits on your lap, stages of the river, changing of the leaves in October, The Rolling Stones, and her faithful partner and the love of her life; Chuck.

Surviving Jennifer are her husband, Chuck, and their three sons, Brett (Anissa) of Colorado Springs, CO., Sean (Kaitlyn) of Springfield, IL., and Ryan (Elizabeth) of Barcelona, Spain. Her seven grandchildren include; Asher, Tate, Brayden, Tobin, Basil, Sydney and Oscar Murphy. Also surviving are her brothers; Dale Hagen, of Austin, TX., and Gary (Lois) Hagen of Stephens Point, Wisconsin. Additionally her faithful cousins and treasured nieces and nephews.

Jennifer’s visitation will be at Gress, Kallal, and Schaaf Funeral Home in Brussels, IL., from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 17, 2026. A mass held the following day, Tuesday August 18th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brussels. Following the mass, all are welcome to St. Joseph's Cemetery in Meppen, IL., where according to her wishes, her ashes will be laid to rest. Immediately following a shared meal and celebration of life will be held at the American Legion Post 685 in Brussels. Jenny always said she wanted a celebration of life; please be prepared and encouraged to share stories, memories, and moments of laughter as it is undoubtedly some of the best medicine around.

Jen was a loyal Daughter, Sister, Niece, Aunt, Wife, Mom, Grandma, Grammy, & Christian. Growing up on a farm of German ancestry taught her the value of hard work, rugged determination, perseverance, and loyalty which helped her fight a daily battle with depression, more acutely from the mid 90’s and on. Despite the darkness and isolation of an ever present torment, Jenny led her life with undaunted courage & self sacrifice that words fall short of expressing. Endless love, empathy, an unspoken understanding communicated by a simple look that encapsulated a deep sadness and yet the bonds of love simultaneously emulsified, a metaphysical connection of the soul, an unspeakable silent witness of grief, sharing the bonds of pain, a simple look, her eyes, touching the lives of those most in need. Jenny is now at peace, healed and whole, free of limitations and likely teaching, definitely worshipping God, and laughing deep from her soul. When the moon catches you by surprise, you enjoy a ripe strawberry, spend time reading a good book, or sharpen a pencil with a paring knife; remember Jenny, be encouraged and strengthened as she would wish, and one day those of us in Christ Jesus will once again be reunited in heaven to share these things and even greater.

Online condolences can be made at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.

Obit Provided By:
Gress, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home