Obituary of Nicholas Joseph Kurtz
KURTZ, Nicholas Joseph
September 14, 1919 – October 18, 2018
Nicholas (Nick) Kurtz, late of Regina, SK, passed away peacefully at Sunset Extendicare on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at the age of 99 years. Nick was predeceased by his wife Ruth; parents Philip and Katherine Kurtz; brother Philip Kurtz Jr.; sister-in-law Anne Kurtz; sister Mary Neiszner; brother-in-law John Neiszner; sister Beth Pugh; brother-in-law John Pugh; sister Caroline Kurtz; sister Nellie Jelinski; brother-in-law Bernard Jelinski; brother Joe Kurtz; father-in-law Otto Hahnel; mother-in-law Wilhelmina Hahnel; brother-in-law Steve Schaumleffel; sister-in-law Edith Schaumleffel; brother-in-law Walter Hahnel and sister-in-law Lena Hahnel.
Nick leaves to mourn son Ken and wife Marjorie; brother John Kurtz and sister-in-law Monica Kurtz; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Nick was born in Regina being the sixth of eight children and attended Earl Grey elementary school, Thomson High School and Success Business College.
Nick met Ruth Hahnel in Regina after World War II and they were married at Trinity Lutheran Church on Sept 15, 1948. They were married for 62 years.
Nick was a leader and had an outgoing personality and the talent and ambition to work in an office environment and to take on a management role. He loved to socialize and was talented in the area of sales. These traits served Nick well throughout his personal and professional life.
Following graduation from Success Business College, Nick worked for Ashdowns in Regina prior to the start of World War II.
When World War II loomed, Nick volunteered to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was unable to pursue that path as he was color blind so, Nick continued working at Ashdowns until he received his draft notice.
Nick served in the Fifth B.C. Coast Regiment accounting division and was stationed in various detachments at the west coast mainly in Victoria and Esquimalt.
Nick received his honorable discharge in November 1945 and he returned to his previous employer at head office of Ashdowns in Winnipeg.
In the early 1950’s Nick started an office equipment business in Regina called Business Specialties “from scratch”. Nick was the active partner and president, brother John was vice president and treasurer. Brother Joe and his wife Ruth were involved in the business. Niece Betty Neiszner worked closely with Nick during the Business Specialties years.
In the mid-1950s, the Kurtz brothers were approached by Mr. Charlie Kingdon General Manager Ford Motor Co. to see if they would be interested in taking over the Regina Lincoln Mercury dealership from Art Riddell and Sons. The Kurtz brothers decided to take on this new challenge and the dealership became Kurtz Motors Ltd. Phil was president, Nick was vice president and sales manager, John was treasurer and Joe was also involved with the business.
When son Ken was born in 1957, Ruth decided to retire from the family flower shop Deluxe Florists and became a homemaker. Subsequently Nick decided to leave Kurtz Motors and he owned and operated Deluxe Florists together with brother-in-law Steve Schaumleffel until the business was sold to Gales Florists in the mid-1970s. The other three Kurtz brothers continued to operate Kurtz Motors until they sold to Tom Percival who was the Ford dealer from Montmartre, SK and the business was renamed Percival Mercury Sales Ltd.
Following the sale of Deluxe Florists to Gales Florists, Nick became a realtor with brother John and the name of the real estate firm was Logans Realty. Nick continued as a realtor until retiring in the late 1980s.
Retirement gave Nick more time for his passions, golfing at the Wascana Country Club and working in his yard. Retirement also gave Nick more time for numerous volunteer activities and to help his family whenever possible.
Nick was a member of the Regina Central Lions Club for 65 years 1948-2013, serving as president in the years 1952-1953. Nick and Ruth attended Lions International Conventions in Miami Beach, Florida, and Mexico City among others. Nick received numerous awards as a Lion including Master Key Member, Melvin Jones Fellowship, Brian Stevenson Fellowship and Life Member Lions Foundation of Canada.
Nick was a member of the Wascana Country Club for 63 years 1953-2015, was an avid golfer who achieved multiple “holes-in-one”. Nick and Ruth enjoyed dances and other social events with their group of friends at the Wascana for many years.
Nick and Ruth traveled extensively all over North America usually by car. Favorite vacations were those taken with family to Phoenix and Mesa Arizona.
The family would like to thank Dr. J.S. McMillan for taking such good care of Nick and for his valuable advice over the years. We would also like to thank Dr. Lok and the nursing staff at Sunset Extendicare.
Funeral Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1909 Ottawa Street, Regina, SK on Monday, October 29, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Riverside Memorial Park.
