Martha Durilla (Kurtz) Ray Nirk (1862-1934)

KURTZ, RAY, NIRK, WEEKS, HOPKINS, HANKINS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:14

From Nevada Evening Journal November 22, 1934 (page 3)

Funeral Services for Mrs. Martha Nirk

Special to the Journal.
Maxwell, Nov. 22--The funeral services for Mrs. Martha Nirk were held Monday at 2:00 o'clock at the Methodist church. Rev. W. M. Scheuermannn had charge of the services. The songs, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Sometime We'll Understand" were furnished by a quartette composed of Clark and Dale John, Harry Fackler and M. M. Jones with Mrs T. C. Couch at the piano. Dale John sang as a solo, "Shadows."

Pall bearers were Will Gamble, Martin Maxwell, Walter Kurtz, Chas. Ray, Cory Kurtz and Minor Sheller.

Burial was in the family lost in the Iowa Center cemetery.

Martha Kurtz, daughter of Jacob and Elvina Kurtz was born in Cedarville, Ill., February 12, 1862 and passed away at her home in Maxwell, Iowa, November 17, 1934 at the age of 72 years, nine months and five days.

Early in her girlhood she moved from her Illinois home to Missouri. After a few years residence there the family moved to Iowa. They settled near Iowa Center where she resided most of her life time. Several years ago she retired and moved to Maxwell.

She was united in marriage to Samuel Ray of Iowa Center, in 1878. To this union were born six children. Those who survive her are: Frank of Des Moines, Mrs. L. R. (Mina) Weeks of Nevada and Mrs. Roger (Veva) Hopkins of Colo. Those who preceded her in death are: Her husband, Mrs. Vera Hankins, Bertha and Chester. Besides the children she is survived by her husband, H. W. Nirk; three brothers Steve and Samuel Kurtz of Maxwell and Oscar of Long Beach, Cal., 15 grandchildren and one great grand child and many other relatives as well as friends mourn her departure.

About a decade ago she was united in marriage to H. W. Nirk of Aberdeen, S. D. The last few years she and her husband made their home in Maxwell.

Although Mrs. Nirk was not a member of any church, she often attended the worship services with her children. It pleased her very much to have her children participate in church activities. She loved her home and was kindly and considerate of her neighbors. As long as she was able and often when it required unusual effort she would visit her friends and neighbors. She regarded them as friends indeed.

Through her 40 weeks of illness she was kind and patient, never becoming cross or irritable, but she accepted her infirmity with a stoical spirit. Again and again she registered her faith in God and her willingness to answer the call of the Good Master to her heavenly home.