Robert Ralph Kurtzweil Sr., 91, a long-time Whitewater resident, died Oct. 12, 2014, in Greenfield, where he had moved to be closer to family.
Born on Aug. 8, 1923, in Menasha the son of Ralph and Helen Kurtzweil, he grew up in the Fox Cities area. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a hospital corpsman in the Pacific, he returned home and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin, graduating with a degree in dairy science.
In 1951, he married Elizabeth Rose Schmitz, daughter of Matthew and Gisella Schmitz, at St. Mary’s Church in Oshkosh. They moved to Whitewater in 1957 when he accepted a management position at Hawthorn Mellody. Prior to retiring, he was a food inspector with the WI State Department of Agriculture. Bob was a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Patrick’s Church in Whitewater, the Whitewater Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and SHHH (Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing). An avid follower of the news, he enjoyed reading the newspaper and doing crossword puzzles.
He will be missed by his wife, Elizabeth; his daughters, Teresa (Michael) Grimm of Menomonee Falls; Carla Kurz, Eau Claire; Paula (Regis) Walter of Giathersburg, Md; Lisa (Steve) Davis of Willis, Texas; and Cora (Tom) Peters of New Berlin; his son, Robert Kurtzweil, Jr. of Fort Atkinson; his sister, Marie Whittemore of Appleton and his sister-in-law Marion Butler of Oshkosh; 13 grandchildren nine great-grandchildren and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his son Steven.
Visitation will be held at St. Patrick’s Church, 1225 W. Main St., Whitewater on Friday, Oct. 17 from 10 to 11 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Whitewater.
In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to Lions Camp, Rosholt, where he enjoyed summer camp for adults with hearing impairments or to St. Patrick’s Church in Whitewater.
The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.
