John C. Kurtyka

Kurtyka, John C.
Appleton

Age 85, passed away peacefully in Appleton on Tuesday, January 4, 2005. He was born in Grand Rapids, MI on March 20, 1919, son of the late Chester and Anna (Majdura) Kurtyka. He graduated from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Mining Engineering. He then served from 1941 – 1945 in the U.S. Army Air Corp where he attained the rank of Captain as a meteorological officer for the Ninth Air Force’s 71st Fighter Wing. He was active in the D-Day invasion and the liberation of France. At the end of the war, he married Luby Marie Ogonowsky who passed away on July 20, 1981. While in the Army, John spent a year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology studying meteorology and earned his pilot’s license. On August 8, 1982, he married Jeanette Young at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Appleton. For many years, he was a professional engineer at Wisconsin Electric Power Company in Appleton where he specialized in hydrology and civil engineering and retired in 1983. Later, he was a consultant for Meade and Hunt Engineering. He was a longtime naturalist with a deep interest in weather, climatology, and geology, and recently designed an underground pump-turbine power generation system. He was recently honored for his 35 years of service to the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Spending time with family at his cabin at Legend Lake was his favorite past time. John served as a member of the board of directors at Legend Lake, was an avid fisherman and Packers fan, and held season tickets for many years.

John is survived by his wife, Jeanette; children: Gerald (Nancy) Kurtyka of El Paso, TX, Dr. Thomas (Cathy) Kurtyka of Woodruff, WI, Rolfe (Lori) Kurtyka of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren: Nathan Kurtyka, Mara (Brent) Hopkins and their son Blake, Lori (Mauricio) Rojas, Faith Kurtyka; Leysa and Lara Kurtyka; stepson, Wally (Lynn) Schmalz; stepdaughter, Judy Borgman; step grandchildren: Ted (Lisa) Schmalz, Donna (Dave) Racette, Traci (Jay) Harder, Annette (Ernie) Von Frankenburg, Scott (Tonya) Borgman; Step great-grandchildren: Jennifer and Nicole Schmalz; Joshua, Beau and Michele Racette; Stephanie, Andrew and Emily Harder; and Matthew and Madelien Von Frankenburg . John is preceded in death by his first wife, Luby; and two sisters: Emily Vroski and Mary Szudzik.

The complete funeral liturgy will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2005, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 1617 W. Pine Street, Appleton, with Fr. John Bergstadt officiating followed by a military honor service. Friends will be received at the church from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Appleton.

Memorials may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society in lieu of flowers

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 739-1231