John Anthony Leslie Kurucz passed away peacefully on September 24, 2016 at the Langenburg Centennial Care Home with his daughters by his side. John was born January 13, 1921 in the Cana District to parents Mike and Rose (nee Kormos) Kurucz. When John was in his teens, his family moved to the Bredenbury District and he started working as a farm labourer until he enlisted into the Army in July 1942 at the age of 22. John trained in Regina and Shiloh, MB before embarking to England in December 1942. John served in the Canadian 5th Armoured Division as a antiaircraft gunner. He was part of the Italian Campaign and travelled through Holland, Belgium and France before returning to England. After his discharge, John continued working as a farm labourer for farmers in the Churchbridge area to gain knowledge of farming before establishing his own. On June 21, 1957, John married the love of his life, Hildagarde Becker and they settled on the farm six miles south of Churchbridge. In 1966, he relocated his farm one mile west of Churchbridge. John and Hilda were blessed with four children; Susan, Sharon, Ellen and Darin. In 1974, due to illness, he had to retire from farming and moved his family into Churchbridge. In 2001, John and Hilda moved to Queen Elizabeth Court in Yorkton and in December 30, 2011, he became a resident of the Langenburg Centennial Care Home. John was a faithful man who made sure his family attended church every Sunday, usually sitting in the front row. He was a member of the Langenburg Legion for many years and our memories are of the many Remembrance Day services in Langenburg where they would march from the Legion to the gym and the socializing at the Legion afterwards. He was involved in his children's sporting activities, coaching baseball and hockey. He was always willing to play catch with his children and give them his advice while they practised their pitching skills. After moving into Churchbridge, John became the ice caretaker at the Old Curling Rink. One of our childhood memories is picturing our father skipping down the ice backwards while pebbling the ice. The family also ran the Curling Rink kitchen for a number of years. John loved gardening and watching the Blue Jays and Riders. In his later years he took up golfing. Ellen and her father enjoyed many golfing games together. He loved family gatherings and playing horseshoes. He especially loved gatherings with his brothers and sisters, which were always a lot of laughs! He loved his seven grandchildren and especially loved his visits with great-grandsons, Mason and Jorian. John was a loving husband and father and a very hard worker who was always willing to help anybody in need. He was well known for his wit and humour. The staff at the Care Home enjoyed his wit very much! John was predeceased by his parents, Mike and Rose; his loving wife of 57 years, Hilda; brothers, Mike, Joe, Henry and Albert; sisters, Rose, Matilda, Brigetta, Edith, Margaret and Agnes; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. He is survived by his loving children; Susan Kurucz, Sharon (Joe) Andrade, Ellen (Terry) Spilchen and Darin (Sally) Kurucz; his grandchildren, Matthew (Rachelle) Andrade, Ashley and Danielle Andrade, Jasmine and Joshua Spilchen, Darion and Faith (Devon) Kurucz; great-grandsons, Mason and Jorian; his brothers, Edward (Marjorie) Kurucz and Leslie (Signe) Kurucz; his brother-in-law, Erwin Becker and brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Erna Hutchings along with many nieces and nephews. A Prayer Service was held on Friday, September 30, 2016 from Trinity Lutheran Church in Churchbridge, SK. The Funeral Service was held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 from Trinity Lutheran Church in Churchbridge with Pastor Jeff Dul officiating. The organist, Vallery Putland, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "O God, Our Help in Ages Past", "Jesus, Lead Thou On" and "In Christ Alone". The Interment Service followed in the Churchbridge Town Cemetery, Churchbridge, SK with Darin Kurucz, Matthew Andrade, Joshua Spilchen, Joe Andrade, Terry Spilchen, Barry Kurucz and Garry Vanderhaeghe serving as the casket bearers. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting . Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
