Ruth Elizabeth Kurtz
Ruth Elizabeth Kurtz was born on April 27, 1932, in Union City, New Jersey to Albert Jr. (Erlen, Switzerland) and Johanna Bossart (Stuttgart, Germany) and had two older brothers, Peter and William.
Despite the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II, Ruth enjoyed a carefree childhood until tragedy struck their family in August 1945. Ruth’s 17-year-old brother, William, had a swimming accident which left him paralyzed and resulted in his death five weeks later. Ruth blamed God for William’s untimely death and did not want anything to do with God. Less than a year later, Ruth became gravely ill. After regaining consciousness, she was told by a nurse that she was lucky to be alive, and that she should say her prayers and thank God for her miraculous recovery. After this experience, the Lord began to work in Ruth and slowly her life changed. She believed Jesus died for her sins and was baptized in the Apostolic Christian Church (Union City) on September 26, 1948. The words of a hymn, “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart” meant a lot to her because these words described exactly what she experienced. She loved her Savior and her Lord.
After graduating from high school, Ruth worked alongside her father for 10 years in his embroidery shop. In 1954, she paused her employment for 6 months to attend a finishing school (Haushaltungs Schule) in Bern, Switzerland.
On Christmas Day 1958, Ruth became engaged to Joachim (Joe) Kurtz, and they married on April 11, 1959. Joe and Ruth had three children: William, Joanna, and Bethany. Ruth enjoyed caring for her children, traveling with the family, reading history, volunteering, needlepoint, and her home was a second home for many in the church. Her bright and bubbly disposition was an encouragement to all who knew her. Since all three of Ruth and Joe’s children married Canadians, they moved to Canada in 2006 to be nearby and help their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, making their sunset years truly golden.
As Ruth’s health declined in her late 80’s, she and Joe moved in with Joanna. Her daughter lovingly cared for Ruth, just as Ruth had cared for her own mother for many years. The Lord called Ruth home on Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 9:15 PM at the age of 90, fulfilling the words of her favorite hymn: My Thoughts are Ever Turning to my Celestial Home.
Beloved wife of Joachim Kurtz for 63 years.
Loving mother of William Kurtz (Barbara) of Cambridge, Joanna Weinhardt (Werner) of Kitchener,
and Bethany Reinhardt (Edmund) of Campbellville.
Grandma to 11 grandchildren: Jonathan (Melody), Philip (Jessica) and Daniel (Ashley) Kurtz; Rosilda
(Erik) Lima, Laura (Sasha) Necakov, Benjamin (Lori) Weinhardt and Sarah (Brad) Webel;
Josiah (Laura), Noah, Elijah and Johanna Reinhardt.
Great-grandma to 14 great-grandchildren: Cecilia and Hadassah Lima; Luca, Elliot, Malcolm and
Pascal Necakov; Rebekah, Violet, Peter, Jacob and Eliana Weinhardt; Ezra and Titus Webel;
and expected baby boy Kurtz (April 2023).
Dear sister-in-law to Virginia Bossart of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Predeceased by her brothers William in 1945 and Peter in 2020
Visitation:
6-8 PM Sunday, December 18, 2022
Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St., Kitchener
Funeral service:
7:30 PM Monday, December 19, 2022
Apostolic Christian Church, 1800 Strasburg Rd, Kitchener
Live stream link: livestream.com/acc-kitchener/sermons
Internment: For the family only
As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Apostolic Christian Church Mission Board of Canada (ACCMBC) would be appreciated. CLICK HERE TO DONATE
Read Less
Sunday December 11th 2022
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ruth Elizabeth Kurtz Sunday December 11th 2022 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
Death notice for the town of: Kitchener, Province: Ontario