Donald A. Kurtz, 82 of West Bend, died on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 surrounded by his loved ones at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital following a four year battle with lung cancer. He was born on August 5, 1931 to the late Albert and Hattie (nee Lamphear) Kurtz in Horicon, WI. Donald graduated as Salutatorian of the Horicon High School Class of 1949 and was selected to attend Badger Boys State. He joined the US Air Force in the spring of 1951 and was stationed in Lake Charles, LA.
While on leave from the Air Force, he was united in marriage to Josephine B. Kurtz(nee Blodgett) at St. John's Lutheran in Juneau, WI on June 13, 1953. Josephine predeceased him on July 27, 2002. Donald later married his current wife, Joan Nickash (nee Liesch) on February 12, 2005.
Following his military service, Donald went to school to become a printer, a career that he faithfully served his whole life. He worked at the Horicon Reporter, Juneau Independent, Badger-Freund Printing in Fond du Lac and eventually at Serigraph in West Bend, where he retired in 1994 following 23 years of service. He also briefly owned his own print shop in Fond du Lac: K&K Printing.
Donald was a self described "marsh rat" and loved everything outdoors including fishing, hunting, gardening and lawn care. He loved spending time at the family cottage in Necedah. He was a loyal Packers fan and NASCAR fan and also a "fix-it-man extraordinaire".
Donald was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in West Bend.
Donald is survived by his wife Joan; sons Michael (Linda) of West Bend and Larry (Helena) of Florence, WI; his stepchildren Terry ( Karen) Nickash of Milwaukee, Becky (Kenneth) Sarsha of Springfield, IL, Cindy (Merle) Justman of Mayville, and Kevin Nickash of West Bend; his grandchildren Stephanie (Scott) Hundt, Andrea (Dr. Matthew) Lochen, Michael Kurtz, Ashley Kurtz, Cody Kurtz, Danny Kurtz and Susie Kurtz; 7 step-grandchildren 7 step-great children; great-granddaughter, Eden Hundt, a sister, Carol (Floyd) Ferries of Beaver Dam and sisters-in-law Louise Kurtz of Beaver Dam, Linda Blodgett of Webster, WI, Marianne Brown of Rainer, OR, brother-in-law Robert Wolfram of Beloit; many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Donald is further survived by his hunting buddy, Michael (Susan) Ellefson, who he referred to as his "third son".
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Josephine; infant children Susan Marie and Thomas Donald; brother Leonard Kurtz, sister Marcella Dornfeldt, brothers-in-law Vilas Dornfeldt, Donald Blodgett, Franklin Blodgett and Steve Gregonis; sisters-in-law Helen Wolfram and Vivian Gregonis and infant brothers Lawrence and Edwin; and many other friends and loved ones.
Visitation will be at Trinity Lutheran Church, 140 N. 7th Avenue in West Bend from 4:00pm until 5:45pm on Sunday, November 24, 2013 with funeral service at 6:00pm at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. David Schoob officiating. Burial will be at Stone Cemetery, Burnett, WI on Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 9:30am.