Pastor Geroge Ernest Kurz
July 13, 1916 - December 1, 2010
Obituary
George Ernest Kurz
George was born July 13, 1916, in Deroit, Michigan, to Ernest and Anna Kurz. Since he lost his father as a little boy, he was raised by his very loving mother with the help of his older sister, Lydia, with whom he was very close.
His major boyhood activities were playing softball, selling newspapers, playing ‘Robin Rood’ in the 8th grade school play, and playing trumpet in the school band.
George was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan.
In 1930, at the age of 14, he was influenced by cousins to enroll in Concordia Junior College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, for pre-ministerial education, graduating in 1935 still undecided about becoming a pastor. During the next four years, 1935-1939, he attended Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1939 with the Master of Sacred Theology degree. During his second year there the Holy Spirit called him to become a pastor while working for Dr. Walter A. Maier, Lutheran Hour speaker and one of his professors. When he graduated in 1939, toward the end of the great depression, there were no calls for any in his class of 150.
During 1939 he preached at various churches, and it was when preaching at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Detroit, late in 1939, that he met his wife, Eunice, the daughter of the pastor, Albert Tong. They were married in December of 1940. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Kathryn and James.
Before they were married, early in 1940, the Mission Board engaged George to canvass door-to-door in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, to see if there was enough interest to start a mission congregation in Grosse Pointe. The result was that twelve people formed a congregation and called George in June, 1940, to be their pastor.
The highlight achievement of his life with Eunice 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. George gave leadership to the Munderloh Scholarship Foundation for Seminary students. During 1963 – 1964, Richard Gerken one of the first recipients of that continuing Foundation served the congregation as its first Vicar, which became a life-changing event.
Their 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.
George 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, Tommy, Zachary, Janelle, Trevor, Abigail and Garett.
When George retired in 1980, he received the Master of Divinity degree. At that time, he and Eunice moved to Seattle to be near their family, becoming members of Resurrection Church, where his son-in-law was pastor, and where Greorge preached from time to time between 1980 and 2002. They lived in Des Moines in Huntington Park, an adult community, where they enjoyed bridge, golf and various other activities. The past three years, he and Eunice lived together in Simply The Best Adult Family Group Home in Des Moines.
George was 94 when he went to his Heavenly home on December 1st, 2010 only hours before his beloved wife joined him. He joined his sister, who preceded him in death. He was a very kind, loving and wise man and will be missed my many, especially his family.
I will never forget the time when my high school boyfriend died in a horrible car crash and I asked my mother what I should do and she told me to go to Pastor Kurz. I sat with him and he recited the Lords Prayer with me. It gave me great peace. I will never forget that day — he took time to sit with me and pray, I was so sad -yet he gave me a good understanding of faith in God that life is ever -lasting
WE SEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE KURZ FAMILY.
WE ARE THE FAMILY WHO BOUGHT THEIR FAMILY HOME AT 1234 AUDUBON, GROSSE POINTE PARK,MI. AFTER HIS RETIREMENT,WE RAISED OUR FAMILY IN THIS HOME AND STILL RESIDE IN THIS SAME HOME. WE FEEL THIS HOME HAS BEEN BLESSED MANY TIMES.
IT MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT WE BUILT A NEW FAMILY ROOM ACROSS THE BACK. OPENING TO KITCHEN AND LIVINGROOM AND INGROUND POOL IN BACKYARD.
OUR CHERISHED MEMORIES LIVE FOREVER,GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.
I was the last person Pastor Kurz confirmed at St James Lutheran in 1980. He was a wonderful Pastor and teacher. I still abide by many of the lessons he taught me in Tuesday school. My family Jack and Marilyn Lighton, Mary, Richard, and Jack also thought he was a truly wonder Pastor and member of our community. May he and his wife rest in peace.
Respectfully,
Richard Jones-Lighton
Pastor Kurz baptized me, and later confirmed me at St. James. We were grateful to be the last class before he retired and moved to Washington. My grandma, Virginia Shannon, was one of the early members of St. James, and worked as Church Secretary for many years. Her love and gratitude for Pastor and Eunice was well-known. They kept in touch until she passed away in 2007. What a special man Pastor Kurz was, and such an inspirational love story! May you find peace in the wonderful life you all shared, and the fond memories you have.
Pastor Kurz confimed me at St.James
Lutheran Church in Grosse Pte.Mi. April 1943 his second confirmation class of that church
Confirmed at St James in the 50s. As well as my own confirmation my siblings, Dan,Sidonie,and Douglas were also confirmed. My Dad and Mom Ernest&Jeanwere personal friends of their’s. His Sunday school Chart talks were way ahead of the times. He was a fine man,and he was important in shaping my faith that has lasted a lifetime.
Please except my condolences for your loss. God Bless
Kathy & Richard, Jim & Linda; Our prayers for consolation & hope are with you. Thank you for sharing your father with so many allowing him to be our pastor. There are many signs of God’s blessing through him: instruction in faith & mentoring how faith impacts life. He was the vehicle by which the Holy Spirit called & nurtured me for ministry; lifting up faith & God-given gifts, pointing to Jesus, modeling pastoral presence; a subliminal, Spirit-guided personhood assimilated from him that I always hope people see in my ministry. We draw from his wisdom & faith – pre-marital counseling; “you are husband and father first, pastor second; take a day off, people will appreciate your model in Christian marriage & parenting.”
Beyond personal, his legacy is the Munderloh Foundation. I meet many pastors who’ve received seminary scholarships from that treasure of the church in which he played a vital role.
Rest from your labors, faithful servant. God’s perpetual light shine on you.
I will never forget the Kurz’s. They had a big influence on my life. Thank You!
We will always remember the Kurz family for the spiritual guidance, leadership and fellowship they shared with their St. James family. God’s blessing to everyone who had the fortune to have known them.
We will always remember the Kurz family for the spiritual guidance, leadership and fellowship they shared with their St. James family. God’s blessing to everyone who had the fortune to have known them.
My prayers are with Kathy and Jim.
May they rest in the peace of the Lord.
Pastor Kurz was such a blessing to me and to countless others. He was a warm, loving man of God. The love of Jesus shone through him. He will be sorely missed. My prayers are with his family. 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