Clarence Raymond Kurtz 1896-1952

KURTZ, RENTZ, HAGEBACK, STEIFEL, FORD, HATLAND

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/16/2010 at 22:28:07

Clarence R. Kurtz Succumbs
Assistant Fire Chief Many Years

Clarence Raymond Kurtz, assistant chief of the Estherville Fire Department, died last night at his home after an illness of three months duration. He underwent surgery at Iowa City several weeks ago for carcinoma of the lung and since that time has been confined to his home. He was 56.

Mr. Kurtz has been a member of the city Fire Department since 1925 and had been assistant chief for the last 17 years.

He was born January 11, 1896 near Muscatine. His family moved to Davenport when he was a child and he received his grade and high school education in the Davenport schools.

He moved to Emmet county in 1913 and was employed on the Rock Island railroad. Later he worked at Rhodes Motor company and then established his own car paint shop which for many years he operated, remaining active in the business until his recent illness.

Mr. Kurtz was married to Esther Rentz March 8, 1917 at Sparta, Wis., and nine children were born to them. One daughter, Wilma Jean, died in infancy. Mrs. Kurtz died Oct. 6, 1941 [Per cemetery records 1943]. Surviving this marriage are five sons, Raymond of Storm Lake, Lloyd of Oklahoma City in the U.S. air force, Kenneth of DeWitt, Clarence Jr. of Estherville and Larry in the U.S. navy; and three daughters, Mrs. Leonard (Cleo) Streifel of Esmond, N.D., Mrs. Forrest (Esther) Ford of Cedar Rapids and Mrs. Raymond (Carol) Hatland of Estherville.

On March 17, 1946 he was married to Elizabeth Hageback of Estherville and five children survive from this marriage: Diana, Dale, Louise, Sharon and Debrah Rae, all at home. Four grandchildren also survive and a half-brother, Frank Hagerman of Moline, Ill.

Mr. Kurtz was a member of the Masonic and I.O.O.F. lodges and an active member of the Grace Episcopal church. He also took an active interest in many civic affairs and served as committeeman from the third ward for the Republican party.

Funeral services will be held Thursday. Time of the rites and other arrangements will be announced later pending the arrival of all the children. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, June 23, 1952)