David Wesley Kurtz

David Wesley Kurtz, 89, of Wamego, formerly of Blaine, KS, went to be with the Lord on Monday evening, February 9, 2009, at Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center. He was born on June 16, 1919 north of Lillis, Kansas. He was the son of Wesley David and Edna Cleota (Martin) Kurtz. He received elementary education at Windy Ridge, Irish Creek and Bluff Creek Elementary Schools. He married Katherine Mildred "Mae" Ensley on September 27, 1939 in Concordia. Together, they ran a dairy on their farm north and west of Blaine for more than 45 years. They milked cows all their married life. David was also a farmer and sold feed premix with his son-in-law for many years with Whearty Ag Products. He was in the Civil Conservation Corp for 9 months in 1936 and was the head cook for 3 months. He worked in Paradise Valley and Ely, Nevada building roads and cutting spruce posts for sheep and cattle ranchers. David was a member of the United Methodist Church in Westmoreland. He lived in the communities of Blue Rapids, Fostoria, Waterville, Westmoreland, and Blaine during his 69 year marriage to Mildred. David was a very loving and caring father and grandfather. He was a hard worker all of his life, with not much time left for hobbies. He enjoyed fishing and tinkering with his tractors when he had the time. Survivors include: his wife Mildred, of the home; his daughter Elizabeth Whearty, Wamego, KS; his two sisters, Nellie Hunter of Auburn, KS and Alice Swoboda of Frankfort, KS; six grandchildren, Catherine Emig and husband Roger, of Texas Creek, CO, Joyce Princ and husband Doug, of Lucas, KS, Paul Todd, of Auburn, KS, Steven Whearty, Kenneth Whearty and his wife Kerry, all of Wamego, KS, Joan Little and her husband Les, of Holton, KS; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by five brothers John Kurtz, Fred Kurtz, Raymond Kurtz, Joe Kurtz, and Paul Kurtz. He was also preceded in death by his dear daughter Cleota Mae Todd on January 29, 2009. Funeral services for Mr. Kurtz will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 14, 2009 at the Westmoreland United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Antioch Cemetery. Mr. Kurtz will lie in-state at the Stewart Funeral Chapel of Westmoreland beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, where the family will greet friends during a visitation from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547.