Joseph N. Kurt, 1919-2015

KURT, HOSCH, SCHEMMEL, SCHILLING, BURKE, BOFFELI, WALTERS, LEHMAN, OTTING, DOLPHIN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/25/2015 at 09:29:15

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Farley

Joseph N. Kurt, 95, of Farley, passed away Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at 5:42 a.m. at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade. Friends and relatives of Joseph may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, where a wake service will be held at 4 p.m. The Farley American Legion and the New Vienna VFW Post will meet at 6:30 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Services for Joseph will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley, with the Rev. John Haugen officiating. Burial will be held at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Farley, with full military honors afforded by the Farley American Legion Post No. 656 and the New Vienna VFW Post No. 7736.

Joe was born May 7, 1919, in Cascade, Iowa, the son of John P. and Lena (Hosch) Kurt. He received his education at the former St. Mary's school in Cascade and was a graduate of Loras College in Dubuque. On Nov. 25, 1947, he was united in marriage to Jane Schemmel. She preceded him in death on May 18, 2008.

Joe was a World War II Army veteran with the Fighting 69th Infantry Division having served in the European Theater in England, France, Belgium and Germany. He fought in numerous battles including the Siegfried Line, the Ardennes forest region, Hellenthal, Buschen and Leipzig, for which he was awarded two Bronze Stars. His division was the first to meet the Russians south of Berlin which ended the war and was part of the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp.

He was a member of St. Joseph's Parish in Farley, for which he served as a former trustee for 25 years and served on the Archdiocese Pastoral Council. He was also a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Dubourg Assembly No. 1573, the Farley American Legion Post No. 656 and the New Vienna Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7736. He was a former 4-H leader, a Dubuque County Democratic Committee member and served as the Dodge Township trustee.

He was a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed being with his family and friends. He raised cattle on the family farm in rural Farley for 52 years. Joe enjoyed ballroom dancing with his wife, bowling, golfing and going to his grandchildren's ballgames. He enjoyed traveling and going to his annual Army reunions.

He is survived by two children, Julie (Mike) Schilling of Burlington and Jeff (Lisa) Kurt of Farley; six grandchildren, Melissa, Benjamin and Andrew Schilling and Jeremy, Justin and Jordan Kurt; four brothers, Melvin (Lavonne) Kurt, Carl Kurt, Sam Kurt and Leon (Trudy) Kurt, all of Cascade; a sister, Eleanor Burke of Bernard; two sisters-in-law, Lois Boffeli of Farley and Margie (Clarence Jr.) Walters of Cedar Rapids; and a brother-in-law, Bill (Joan) Lehmann of Epworth.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Herbert, Fred and Andrew Kurt; sisters, Mary Dolphin, Anna Mae Lehmann and Margaret Ann Otting; sisters-in-law, Alvina Kurt, Tess Kurt, Mary Lou Kurt and Dorothy "Dottie" Kurt; and brothers-in-law, Bill Boffeli, Ralph Otting, Pat Burke and Wilfred Dolphin.

A Joseph N. Kurt memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhome inc.com.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque, River Bend Retirement Community, Shady Rest Care Center, Mercy Medical Center and Medical Associates Clinic for all their care and services.