Rev. Dr. J. Eugene Kurtz, 75, US Navy World War II Veteran

He was born March 23, 1927 in Dover, Ohio where he was raised and graduated from high school in 1945. He was a resident of Amherst during his pastorate at Family Fellowship Foursquare Church.

He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Hornet during World War II. Rev. Kurtz was ordained and licensed a Foursquare Minister in 1950. During his ministry, he was instrumental in the opening of several churches in Pennsylvania and Central Ohio. He pastored a Muri, Pennsylvania church from 1953 until 1961 when he accepted the call to come and minister to the Amherst Foursquare Church. He was a pastor until 1978 when he was called to pastor a church in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 1981, he was appointed in the Northeastern section of the United States. In 1986, he was appointed the General Supervisor over all of the Foursquare churches within the United States and was Vice President on the board of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel where he served until his retirement in 1994. He received his Doctor of Divinity in 1998.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years Donna M. Kurtz (nee Lissekam); his sons, John Eugene Kurtz, Jr., of Plano, Texas, Timothy Paul Kurtz of Amherst, and Matthew Owen Kurtz of Akron and Ken Kurtz of Palm Harbor, Florida; and his sisters, Thelma Thoburn of Canton and Janice Hatley of Vermilion.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Garnett (nee Sullivan) Kurtz.

Friend may call Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 at the Hemple Funeral Home; 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. from the Family Fellowship Foursquare Church; 780 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst with the Rev. William Mouer, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, South Amherst.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Family Fellowship Foursquare church; 780 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst 44001 or New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph, 5255 North Abbe Rd., Elyria 44035.