Gary J. Kurka
Sept 15 1955 – August 30, 2013
son of Charles and Vera (Faltus) Kurka, was born
September 19, 1955 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Jefferson High
School in Cedar Rapids. He attended Minnesota Bible College in Rochester,
Minnesota receiving his degree in Religion and Biblical Studies. Gary was
united in marriage to Mary Jo Burch on December 27, 1975 in Sheldon, Wisconsin.
He served as a pastor in churches in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.
Gary also taught school, coached basketball, and worked for the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes. He was very devoted to the care of his wife Mary Jo who
battled ALS for 14 years before her death on September 6, 2011. Gary was
currently serving as the pastor of Preston Christian Church near Bruce, South
Dakota. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2013 and died on
Friday, August 30, 2013 in Sioux Falls at the age of 57 years.
Gary’s main passion in life was sharing Jesus Christ with
others. He also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, music, watching his sons play sports
and making Christmas wreaths as gifts to others. Gary can be described as a
person who loved talking to people, lending a helping hand and was a friend to
all he met.
Grateful for having shared his life are his fiancé Luann
Hughbanks of Bruce; one daughter Sara Strickfaden and her husband Kyle and
their children, Grace, Noah, Jack and Kate from Norwood Young America, MN;
three sons, Will of Marshall, MN, Grant and Ethan of Bruce; one brother Bob
Kurka and his wife Bev of Lincoln, IL; one sister Sherry Pierson and her
husband Brian of North Mankato, MN; his mother-in-law Ruth Burch of Ladysmith,
WI; three brothers-in-law, Scott Burch and his wife Pauline of Eau Claire, WI,
Bob Burch and his wife Dutch of Tomah, WI, Jeff Burch and his wife Brenda of Garretson,
SD; one sister-in-law Chris Tippetts and her husband Brian of Holmen, WI;
several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Gary was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jo, his son James,
his parents and his father-in-law Jim Burch.
Funeral services are
scheduled for 11:00 AM, Monday, September 2, 2013 at the Estelline School
Gymnasium. Visitation will be from 4PM to 7PM Sunday at the Preston Christian
Church, rural Bruce, South Dakota. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Sheldon,
Wisconsin.
Gary Kurka Memorial
Donations. Sorry this information has been a bit slow in coming. Please send
any donations to Gary's daughter for 3 ministries he designated. Please note on
your check
"Pastor Gary Kurka Memorial Donation"
Sara Kurka Strickfaden
510 Central Ave S
Norwood Young America, MN 55397
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuBH7KrCfGg
A Family's Will
Lou Gehrig’s disease limits Mary Jo Kurka’s mobility, but it hasn’t kept her from enjoying her son Will’s memorable senior year
April 15, 2010
By Matt Dahlseid mdahlseid@
Return to normalcy for Kurka
http://geisefuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/GeiseF1/obit.cgi?user=1078267Kurka
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