Post by connie on Aug 24, 2015 14:26:49 GMT -5
Kurth, Raymond Peter S/Sgt 591st Field Artillery Battalion B battery 4th gun section
passed away in October 2014
OBITUARY: www.channel3000.com/obituaries/Raymond-Kurth/29337562
Sauk City/Madison -- Raymond Peter Kurth, 90 years old, formerly of Madison, passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Sauk City, due to complications from diabetes.
Ray was born on January 31, 1924 in Madison to the late Jacob and Louise (Littel) Kurth. He was a graduate of Madison East High School, class of 1942, and Holy Redeemer Catholic Grade School. On May 10, 1947, he married Jeanette Pickarts at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Madison.
Ray was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army at the Battle of the Bulge with Battery B, 591st Field Artillery, 106th Division. He was honorably discharged on February 26, 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. The lifelong friendships resulting from his wartime service were celebrated at the annual Battery B reunions for over 50 years.
He lived the majority of his life in his hometown, Madison, where he was active as a fast-pitch softball player for many years. He was a member of the Madison Police Department for 31 years, retiring in 1979 at the rank of Lieutenant Supervisor of the Youth Aid Bureau. After his retirement, he and his wife relocated to their cottage on the Wisconsin River near Mazomanie where they enjoyed many years of relaxation and independence. He and his wife also traveled for a time to visit friends throughout the country, and take breaks from the harsh Wisconsin winters. Their travel was highlighted by a trip to Europe. He also worked for a time as a private investigator, primarily for the firm of Atterbury, Riley and Luebke. Throughout his life, Ray was an avid hunter and fisherman, and a loyal fan of the Packers, Badgers, Brewers and Bucks. He was also a member of St. Norbert Catholic Church in Roxbury.
Survivors include his wife of sixty-seven years, Jeanette; his children, Raymond (Ramona) Kurth, Deborah (Grant) Weina, Patricia Kurth, Rich Kurth, Mary Kurth, Michael (Becky) Kurth; his grandchildren, Hope Weina (J.R.) James, Sarah (Mark) Sauer, Aaron Kurth, Kristin Kurth, Joseph Kurth, Sophia Kurth, Samantha Kurth, Christopher Kurth; great-grandchildren, Kingston, Gianna and Adelyne James; sister, Rilla (Kurth) Miller; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Wayne (Phyllis) Pickarts, Joyce (Dehaven) Pickarts; and many nieces and nephews...
MEMORIAM
A brief Memoriam note in April 2015 Cub p. 45: 106thinfdivassn.org/CUB/CUB-Vol71%20no2-July2015-web2.pdf led me to check the roster and then search for the obituary. The memoriam note gave the date of death as "October of 2014" reported by his son. The name was Raymond P. Kurth, but the unit was listed as 422/L. The Roster had a man by that name listed in 591 B. It was/is possible that there were two men in the division by the same name. That they both died in October of 2014 seems unlikely... My current assumption is that the Memoriam refers to the man who's obituary appears above and that there was an error in the unit in the Cub. There is a lot involved in putting that publication out! All are deeply grateful for those who give their time to do this... I'll let the editor know what I've discovered.
MORE ON WEB:
106th Website by Carl Wouters: division history includes a photo taken by Raymond Kurth of the second gun section of 591 B: 106thinfantry.webs.com/historyofthe106th.htm
Bulge Bugle publication of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge January 1987 p9. has a brief note about Kurth's 1986 return to the Ardennes with a buddy and their wives www.veteransofthebattleofthebulge.org/vbob/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1987-Jan.pdf "He states that the people around St Vith as well as those along the Belgian-German Borders were wonderful."
Photo; of 591st B 4th gun section: www.oldhickory30th.com/591st%20FA%20Roanne%20Belgium%20Battery%20B%20photo.jpg
Photo Back (of above photo): www.oldhickory30th.com/591st%20FA%20Roanne%20Belgium%20Battery%20B%20back.jpg
last names identified: Salter, Sebo Garbulinski, Corbin, Key, De Rosa, Kurth, Rasmussen, Cymeeman, Clarke; Location: Roanne Belgium