Elvina (Wenrich/Wenrick) Kurtz (1835-1925)

WENRICK, WENRICH, KURTZ, RAY, MAXWELL, BENNETHUM

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 8/11/2022 at 18:50:52

From Nevada Evening Journal June 8, 1925 (page 1)

DEATH SUMMONS ANOTHER PIONEER

MRS. JACOB KURTZ, 89, LAID TO REST AT IOWA CENTER CEMETERY

By International News.
Iowa Center, June 8.--Hovering under the shadow of her ninetieth birthday, Grandma Elvina Kurtz, widow of the late Jacob Kurtz and one of the oldest women in this part of the county, was summoned by the Messenger of Death Thursday, June 4 and the body was laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery, Iowa Center, Sunday afternoon, after services in the Evangelical church by Rev. C. E. Lookingbill of Nevada.

She was born Elvina, daughter of David and Mary Wenrich, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1835 and departed this life at Iowa Center, Iowa, June 4, 1925, aged 89 years, 8 months and 2 days.

She was united in marriage in Berks county to Jacob Kurtz in 1853 and they continued to make their home there until 1856 when they came west as far as Stephenson county, Ill., where they lived until 1871, when they went to Missouri in which state they made their home for two years and then came up to Story County in 1873 and for over half a century their home had been in the vicinity of Iowa Center, where they reared their family and near which place many of them now have their homes.

The husband passed to the Great Beyond about 6 years ago. She leaves to mourn her death six children, they being Andrew J. Kurtz of Nevada, S. J. Kurtz of Iowa Center, O. S. Kurtz of Long Beach, Calif., Martha Ray, Nick of Maxwell, Mrs. Mina Maxwell of Des Moines and Mrs. Mary Bennethum of Maxwell. There are also 78 grand children and 48 great grandchildren, besides a host of friends and neighbors.

All of the children were present for the funeral which the exception of the son in California and besides these there were many of the grand children and great grandchildren present.

Mrs. Kurtz became a member of the Lutheran church when a girl back in Pennsylvania and she clung to that faith throughout the many years of her life.

There was an immense concourse of relatives and friends present at the services, giving mute evidence of the high esteem in which she was wad held by the community and the love which her descendants bore for her.