OBITUARY FROM EDMONDS & EVANS FUNERAL HOME (PORTAGE, IN) WEBSITE:
Arthur Elwood (Art) Kurth, age 92, passed away peacefully on February 26 at his home in Porter County, IN. Art is survived by his beloved wife, Alice; son, Eric (Karla) Kurth; daughter, Lisa (Jim) Kerr; sisters, Joanne Dravet and Mary Jane Henley; grandsons, Stephan (Jennifer Duda) Kurth and Cory (Rachel) Kurth; and many dear nieces and nephews.
Art was born to Arthur Axel and Dorothy Margaret Kurth on September 13, 1930 in Washington, Iowa. The family relocated soon after to Hobart, Indiana where Art grew up and went to school. As a child of the Depression, Art started working before he was 10, delivering newspapers and doing odd jobs. During his high school years, he worked summers as a cabin boy and later as a mess cook on various Great Lakes steamers, and then full time at the U.S. Steel Gary Works. Despite working full time, Art proudly graduated from Hobart High School in 1950. Following graduation, he joined the US Navy and served in Korea until 1954. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Art reentered civilian life at full speed, getting his private pilot license in 1955 and racing motorcycles with the Calumet Competition Club. He joined the Sheet Metal trade as an apprentice and found his true calling. He remained in the trade throughout his career, finally retiring in 1994.
In 1956 Art met Alice Christakis, the love of his life. They married in 1958 and soon thereafter moved to unincorporated Porter County in search of open land with plenty of space to raise a family. Art loved his family, his work, and assisting others. Always ready with a helping hand, patient advice, and every tool known to man, if you had a problem or a project he was there to help. If he intuited something you might not even know you needed or wanted, he would surprise you with it.
Art was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Portage for 59 years, and in retirement enjoyed meetings and outings with the United Methodist Men. He was also a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 20 Gary Retiree’s Club and the American Legion.
A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2023 from 12:30 pm until 4:30 pm at Edmonds and Evans Funeral Home, Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Ave. Portage, IN 46386. Private family burial preceded services at McCool Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.ee-fh.com.
This information and picture were obtained from: https://www.ee-fh.com/obituaries/Arthur-Kurth/#!/Obituary.