Eunice Helen Kurz
September 15, 1915 - December 2, 2010
Obituary
Eunice Helen Tong Kurz
Eunice was born September 15, 1915 to Albert and Minna Tong. Her father was Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan for 47 years. It was in that church she was baptized and confirmed. Her mother died when she was a young teenager. Their very loving father raised her, and her sisters, Lucille and Lois.
During her early years she had an office position at General Motors Corporation, Chevrolet Division.
She met her husband, George, when he preached for her father one Sunday, late in 1939. They were married in December of 1940. Before they were married, she helped George start a mission congregation in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The marriage was blessed with two children, Kathryn and James.
The highlight achievement of her life with George is that they spent their entire forty-year ministry in one church, St. James Lutheran of Grosse Pointe, which grew from twelve members in 1940 to seven hundred and fifty members, when they retired in 1980.
Besides singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School and being active in various Women’s Groups, she was instrumental in building the congregation by greeting visitors and members in the narthex every Sunday before the WORSHIP service BEGAN. Before Kathryn was born, she and George made calls on all the visitors in their homes. She and George enjoyed periodically entertaining, in their home, groups of ten to twelve members of the congregation.
During those many years, her hobbies included making ceramics, needle point, knitting, golf, BRIDGE, and crossword puzzles.
The family was enlarged with the gift of Richard Gerken as husband to Kathryn in 1964 and Linda Behrend as the wife of James in 1974. Eunice was also blessed with six grandchildren, Timothy Kathryn and Mark Robin Gerken, Susan Keith Gracey, Rebecca Gerken, Andy and Gretchen Kurz; eight-great-grandchildren. Jessica, Jacob, Thomas, Zachary, Janelle, Trevor, Abigail and Garrett.
When her husband retired in 1980, they moved to West to be near their family, becoming members of Resurrection Church where their son-in-law was the pastor. They lived in Hutington Park, an adult community in Des Moines.
Eunice was 95 when she went to her Heavenly Home on December 2, 2010 only hours after her beloved husband went to his Heavenly home joining her two sisters, who preceded her in death. She was a blessing to many, especially to her family. She will be missed.
Kathy & Richard, Jim & Linda, please know we remember fondly the beauty of God’s richness seen in your mother. She was the model of grace, support, and the love of God which not only enriched us in faith & hope but serves as an example for our ministry. Please know we lift you up in prayer that resurrection hope in Christ Jesus and contentment that mother has joined the saints in splendor would sustain you in these days.
Mrs. Kurz was a beautiful, loving Christian woman — the epitome of a true “pastor’s wife.” She had the gift of encouraging and affirming others. What a blessing she was to me. My prayers are with her family at this time. God bless you all.
Dear Kathy and Richard,
We offer condolences to you at this time of loss. We know that family will comfort you.
Sincerely,
Jerry and Bev Goldhaber