KURTH, Jay Francis 1936-2005

KURTH, PIETERS, LOCKMAN

Posted By: Jeffrey R Phillips (email)
Date: 3/12/2005 at 14:19:30

Jay Francis Kurth
ACKLEY—Jay Francis Kurth, 68, of Ackley died Saturday, March 5, 2005, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Funeral services were Tuesday, March 8, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ackley with the Rev. Jim Miller officiating. Burial followed in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Jay was born Nov. 6, 1936, in Ackley, the son of Julius and Irene (Lockman) Kurth. He graduated from Ackley High School in 1955. From 1955-57 Jay served in the U.S. Army. On Feb. 15, 1958, he married Sharon Pieters in Ackley. Following his marriage to Sharon, he worked with his father doing plumbing and heating. He then started his own business producing wagon boxes and pickup racks. As time progressed, his business changed and he went into fiberglass fabrication. Jay was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Elliott-Keninger Post. No. 252 of Ackley, Iowa Falls Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge No. 1331, Ackley Country Club, Ducks Unlimited, National Rifle Association and Schleswig Wine Club. Jay had been a pilot and flight instructor and was an avid winemaker. Jay is survived by his wife, Sharon; three children, Kim Blakesley and husband Bruce of Cedar Falls, Jeff Kurth and wife Janet of Ackley, and Tracey Barritt of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.; 11 grandchildren, Joshua, Tylor, Katie, Bill, Ksyusha, Justin, Jeremy, Jordan, Jessica, Matthew and Megan; two great-grandchildren, Kristi and Amber; two brothers, Steve Kurth and Mike Kurth and wife Gretchen; two sisters, Susan Swart and husband Duane and Debra Kurth; 14 nieces and nephews; and special friends, Ted Main and wife Shirley and James Bear. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his parents, Julius and Irene Kurth; one grandson, Edward Gulsvig; and one niece, Amber Harms. Sietsema Funeral Home in Ackley was in charge of the arrangements.