Timothy Kurtz Sr.

Timothy Kurtz Sr., a life-long resident of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Monday, May 8, 2017 at the Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake surrounded by family and friends.  He was 86 years old. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, May 12, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team-Army.  The Final Alarm, Firefighters Prayer and Escort will be provided by the Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 11th at the Heartland Care Center Chapel from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a service at 2:00 p.m. with Chaplain Rachel Johnson officiating.  Visitation will continue at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus and the Scripture Service will be led by Reverend Mr. Ken Severinson, Deacon and music by the Ternes Family.  Timothy was born on October 21, 1930, the son of Casper and Louise (Keller) Kurtz in Devils Lake, ND where he would live, work and raise his family for his entire life. He attended school at St. Mary’s Academy in Devils Lake. Tim entered the United States Army on January 15, 1951. He proudly served with the Service Company, 164th Infantry, 47th Division at Camp Rucker, Alabama and was honorably discharged on September 23, 1952 with the rank of Private First Class.  Tim was united in marriage to his sweetheart Mary Ann Senger on January 22, 1952 at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  They established their home in Devils Lake.  After the service, Tim worked at the Hollywood, Lake Theater and Starlight Drive In movie theaters and the Mayer Hotel. Tim began flooring installation with Jundts and eventually started his own business, contracting with many of the stores in the Lake Region. He later worked as Supervisor of the Sanitation Department for the City of Devils Lake for 10 years, retiring in 1992.  Retirement did not mean Tim quit working, he then was the “yard” foreman at Ginther Farms for several years, keeping the Ginther yard in pristine condition.  Most of Tim’s hobbies were also work. He enjoyed woodworking and remodeling and called himself and the crew “Close Enough Construction”.  When there was a job to be done, he was always there to lend a helping hand.  Gardening was his passion.  He always had a beautiful garden of flowers and vegetables even in the nursing home.  He was involved in the whole process of planting, harvesting and processing including canning pickles, cutting up the cabbage for sauerkraut, taking the corn off the cob.  In the fall he was grinding up horseradish and making sausage.  “Borsht” was his specialty and he made a lot of it so everyone went home with an ice cream pail of soup.   At the nursing home, he was out and about on his scooter, pulling a hose around to water plants, washing down the patio and he made sure the entrance lawn and walkway were free of weeds and debris.  In his younger days, Tim had several horses and his pride and joy was “Jingles”. Tim entered Jingles in horse shows and won many trophies and ribbons.  Jingles was also his parade horse, riding him in many parades in the Lake Region.  He loved to fish, and a good catch was always shared with neighbors and family at fish fries on the Kurtz patio.  After retirement, Tim enjoyed having coffee time with his many dear friends.  Tim served 34 years on the Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He served as Vice President in 1983 to 1984.  He was a captain and drove Fire Truck #203 Ladder.  He also enjoyed membership in the Knights of Columbus, Eagles and VFW.  Tim was a man of strong faith and treasured his family more than anything in the world. He served his country and his community in so many ways.  At the nursing home he was an inspiration to all, staff and residents.  He was nicknamed “Boss Man” and “Cruise Foreman” and was truly an ambassador of Heartland Care.  He will be greatly missed by his loving family. His wife of 65 years Marie; his children Gary Kurtz, Devils Lake, Dan (Peggy) Kurtz, Grand Forks, Tim (Jan) Kurtz Jr., Devils Lake, Linda (Mark) Pajala, Fargo and Colleen (Brad) Severinson, Devils Lake; grandchildren Jerod (Heather) Kurtz, Stephanie (Scott) Volk-Adam (Sheho) Kurtz, Nathan Kurtz-Amy Kurtz, TeeJay (Faron Bogar) Kurtz-Kimberly (Marc) Northridge, Michael (Katie) Pajala; great grandchildren Jacob, Sheyenne, Cody, Jordan, Ellie, Hayden, Emily, Kaden, Tyson, Cassandra and Savannah; siblings Joe (Dorothy) Kurtz, Bismarck, Betty Herda and Wallie Klier, Devils Lake, Rose (Jim) Hannon, Minneapolis, MN, Marian Reller, Grand Forks, Julius (Joann) Kurtz, San Jose, CA and Casper (Madelynn) Kurtz also of Devils Lake; many nieces, nephews and their families and best buddies Susie Peterson and Errol Molbey He was preceded in death by his parents; son David; daughter-in-law Debbie Kurtz and brothers John, Balzer and Richard Kurtz. Casket Bearers for Tim will be Dennis Schwab, Errol Molbey, Don Schell, Joey Kurtz Jr., Kenny Ames and Jim Moe. Reading the Scriptures will be Amy Kurtz and the Gift Bearers will be Tim’s grandchildren. Honorary Bearers are all the caring employees of Eventide Heartland Care Center.