April 13, 1926- June 27, 2021
Passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family in his 96th year. Loving
husband, sweetheart and dance partner of Dorothy “Dot” Evelyn (Reek) for
65 years. Devoted father of Bradley Kurtz (Lisa), Dayle Toscan (Frank)
and Allison Hedges (Darren). Proud Grandpa to Chelsey Young (Caitlyn),
Brendan Kurtz (Stephanie), Justine Giosa (Andrew), Jordan Toscan (Anja),
Dylan Toscan (Laura Krizan), Julia Toscan (Geoff Hiebert), Jocelyn
Hedges and Reese Hedges. A special Great-Grandpa to Gideon, Ivy-Rose,
Sawyer, Olivia and Gabriel. Reunited in heaven with his 6 brothers and
sisters Dorothy Hall (Ronald), James Kurtz, Rita Tracey (Jim), Ralph
Kurtz, Gerald Kurtz (Doreen) and Irene Laidlaw (Richard), his parents
Albert and Ellen Kurtz and best friends Betty and Leo Heffernan.
Survived by his sisters-in-law Helen Kurtz and Ruth Kurtz.
Willie worked hard to build a life filled with love and opportunity for
his family. From the time they met at a barn dance at the Kurtz family
farm in 1943, home for Willie became wherever Dorothy was—the farmhouse
in Ariss where they raised their family, the retirement home they built
together on the farm, their retreat in Florida and eventually the home
they would live out the rest of their days together in the Guelph
Arboretum. They both shared a love for travel and cherished their
memories of many trips with friends and family.
Willie was passionate about farming and agriculture and together with
his two brothers Jim and Gerald, built Kurtz Produce Inc. He found great
joy in working and caring for the land, spending time in nature and
especially time walking and clearing the bush.
Willie was the ‘strong silent type’, but still loved to throw a good
party. Together as a team, Dot and Willie hosted countless celebrations
with their large family and many friends, including pool parties, corn
roasts, euchre tournaments and memorable snowmobile gatherings ‘back at
the bus’.
As a dad, Willie taught his children the value of hard work, to be
honest, fair and kind and how to have fun. He showed a deep appreciation
for the country life and a strong faith in God. As a grandpa, Willie
taught his grandchildren how to drive, how to play cards, and how to
sneak an ice cream cone or grandma’s peanut clusters out of the freezer.
Willie’s strong loving arms and big working hands were always perfect to
hold his great grand babies.
The family would like to extend a thank you to Willie’s wonderful
in-home care giving team, especially Ena, Urmila and Rachael, who
treated Willie with tender love and care right until the very end. A
special thank you to Dr. Anna Issakoff-Meller for her on-going support.
The family will receive friends at Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral
Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon Street, Guelph, on Friday, July 2, 2021
from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Due to Covid restrictions, guests must rsvp their
attendance through the funeral home website. Masks are mandatory.
A private funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 3, 2021 at 10
a.m. A live streaming link will be located on the funeral home website.
“God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms
around you, and whispered ‘come to me’. With tearful eyes we watched you
fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A
golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands now rest. God broke our
hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.”
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Autismcanada.org or to Heart
and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family. Cards
available at the funeral home or online at
www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.