Jerome Kurtz, age 84, of Sterling Heights, MI, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed quietly at home surrounded by family on December 14, 2021, just shy of his 85th birthday. Jerry was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin but spent the majority of his childhood on the family farm in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This is where he learned to ride horses and where he helped his father with the breeding, boarding, and training of German Shepherds. They showed their dogs under the Kurtz Home Kennels name. Jerry left for the Air Force at age 17 and returned home after his four years of active duty but remained in the Reserves. He married his first wife Nancy (nee Gilo, now Bechtel) at the age of 22 and the next year moved his young family to Michigan to continue his career at Selfridge Air National Guard Base-this time as a civilian. He worked his way up from clerk-typist to Civilian Personnel Officer for the entire base by the time of his retirement. He had a full career and was well-liked and respected by co-workers and Base Commanders alike. Jerry and Nancy eventually divorced, and Jerry married Pam (Ballard) in 1983 and was proud to adopt her son. They had a deep love and connection that everyone that saw them together could immediately recognize.
Jerry will be remembered for his love of family, his wonderful sense of humor, and his musical gifts. Jerry started piano lessons at age 6, and from then on, music was an important part of his life that he carried with him wherever he went. Jerry grew to be an extremely accomplished pianist who loved to entertain. When he was in the Air Force and stationed in Tripoli, Libya, he had a small band that played together. He entertained at two different nightclubs twice a week for years even while working his full-time job. After retirement, he was in the Senior Showcase at MCC for many years. He also wrote his own songs and he and Pam would travel to Nashville on a yearly basis to record his music and peddle it to publishers in that city. He had quite a few songs under contract at any given time. Jerry was a devoted father and was immensely proud of his children and their accomplishments; even writing songs dedicated to them.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 38 years Pamela, his siblings Barbara (Don) Hilbert, Victoria Dugan, Kenneth (Judy) Kurtz, his children Lori (Jim) Haralson, Brian Kurtz, and Shawn Kurtz (Brittni Darbonnier) his grandchildren Alexandria (Jonathon) Rautio, Grant Haralson, Daniel Kurtz, Erin Kurtz, Jasmine Evans and Vladeti Darbonnier, and great-grandchildren Henry and Wyatt Rautio. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Anton and Amanda Kurtz, and his brother Anton Kurtz Jr.
Visitation and services will be held at Resurrection Funeral Home 40800 Hayes Road, Clinton Township 48038. Visitation Monday December 27, 2021 from 3-8 PM and funeral services Tuesday December 28, 2021 with viewing from 9 AM until time of service at 10 AM. Please note that masks will be required whenever inside the funeral home. If so inclined, Jerry’s wife Pam asks that donations be made in his honor to The Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio 1100 Spaatz Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 or to Brighton Hospice of Michigan 26075 Woodward Ave Ste 300, Huntington Woods, MI 48070 ·
