Round Lake teacher's husband killed in Iraq

Tonya Nurnberg text-messaged her husband Keith Tuesday, chatting about daily life: his in Iraq, hers as a Round Lake teacher and their unborn child.

On Wednesday, Tonya learned Keith had been killed after the Humvee he was riding in was reportedly hit by a missile.

"Keith believed in what he was doing over there, but after he married Tonya he just wanted to get home to her," said Capri Nurnberg, Tonya's sister.

Keith Nurnberg, 26, was an Army specialist E4 serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. He and Tonya, 29, of Genoa City, Wis., had been married for nine months.

Their first child, a boy, is due in November. The couple planned to name the baby after his dad.

Capri Nurnberg, of Lake Geneva, Wis., said that while her sister and Keith had been married only a short time, they have known each other for a decade. Capri is married to Keith's cousin, Cliff Nurnberg.

Details about Keith Nurnberg's death were not immediately available from the Defense Department.

As of Thursday evening, Keith's family still didn't have all of the details, either. Capri Nurnberg said she expected his body to be back in the United States Monday and funeral services would be planned for later next week.

Survivors include Keith's parents, Barb and Al of McHenry; three sisters, Christi, of Colorado, Melissa, of Indiana, and Kimmi of McHenry; three nephews; and two nieces.

"He loved kids. His nephews and nieces were the lights of his life," Capri Nurnberg said. "What he was most looking forward to was meeting is son."

Ben Martindale, chief executive officer of Round Lake Area Unit District 116, where Tonya teaches third grade at Village School, said the district was mourning the loss Thursday.

"We're very saddened and never expected this type of tragedy to strike this close to home," Martindale said. "Village School has a network of support to help her or anyone else in need."

Round Lake Area school board members remembered the soldier with a moment of silence before a meeting Thursday night.

District 116 school board President W. Guy Finley expressed sympathy for Tonya Nurnberg and her family.

"We're going to do everything that we can to support her and her family and the staff," Finley said.

Kim Kearby, who heads District 116's teachers union and works at Village School, said all of the teachers are grieving along with Tonya.

A crisis team was ready at Village School to help grieving staff members or students, Finley said.

"It'll take us time to sort through," he said.

Martindale said Tonya Nurnberg was hired at District 116 this year. She attended District 116 schools as a student.