Ida Mardell "Mardi" Kurtz 1930 - 2017

KURTZ, BIRKLEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/25/2017 at 19:36:33

SIOUX City Journal
19 January 2017

CUSHING, Iowa | Ida Mardell "Mardi" Kurtz, 86, of Cushing, passed away Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at the Good Samaritan Society in Holstein, Iowa.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church in Cushing, with the Rev. Wayne C. Pfannkuch officiating. Burial will be in Cushing Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home in Holstein. Online condolences can be made at nicklasdjensenfh.com.

Born to Ole and Josie Birkley, on July 17, 1930, in Maskell, Neb., Mardell was the only girl with six brothers. She attended country school with her brothers and graduated in 1948 from Ponca (Neb.) High School. Mardell attended Wayne State Teachers College, then taught for two years in a one room school house near Jackson, Neb.

On Sept. 24, 1950, Mardell united in marriage to Merle Kurtz. They lived on their family farm in Cushing, where they raised five children. They also have 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. As her children became more independent, Mardell also found her calling as a nurse's aide at Correctionville (Iowa) Nursing home. Merle and Mardell moved from the family farm to Char Mac Assisted Living in Holstein, in August 2013 and to Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Holstein, in May 2016.

Mardell's commitment to her faith and her family was unwavering. Caring for all of them, she was always cooking, preparing family meals and baking special things for each of them brought her great joy. Mardell also loved to yodel, play the accordion, sing and dance a bit in her kitchen. Mardell was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Cushing, where she was active in circle, choir and taught Sunday School for many years.

Mardell is survived by her husband of 67 years, Merle; son, Gary (Cheri) of Correctionville, and their children and grandchildren, Brant (Alison), Colton and Daxton, Justin (Larissa), Ryver, Reif and Ireland, Cody (Trish), Piper, Ciara and Taryn; daughter, Nancy (Donavon) Noe of Holstein, and their children and grandchildren, Blake (Melissa), Cove, Bart (Jacque), Mila, Mara and Remington; son, Bob (Nancy) Kurtz of Correctionville, and their children and grandchildren, Alicia (Nathan) Drury, Nash, Tressa (Mark) Kurtz, Rogan, Ashton (Steve) Huffman, Jacob and Grant, Sami McCrea, Tyrel McCrea; daughter, Jane (Wes) Kurtz-Teal of Sioux Falls, S.D., and their children and grandchild, Kristina (Krissy) Bridges, Lacey Bridges, Lindsay (Josh) Teal-Ambrose, Magdalen; daughter, Sherry (Paul) Kurtz-Anderson of Canton, S.D., and their children, Matthew and Nathan; brother Mike (Phyllis) Birkley of Hubbard, Neb.; sisters-in-law, Edna Birkley of Ponca, Neb., and Della Wolf of Cherokee, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

Mardell was preceded in death by her parents, Ole and Josie Birkley; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Lynn Birkley, Dale (Evelyn) Birkley, Ray (Joyce) Birkley, Joe (Janet) Birkley and Wally (Joy) Birkley.