Terrance Ora Kurtz

Terrance (Terry) Ora Kurtz passed away on January 14, 2024 at the age of 83.  He was the fifth child of Eldo Earl Kurtz and Laura M (Leonard) Kurtz of Webster City, Iowa.

Terry was born on November 14, 1940, at Hamilton County Hospital in Webster City.  He was raised on the Kurtz farm west and north of Webster City in Fremont Township where he went to country school at Fremont #3 up to seventh grade and then graduated from Webster City Lincoln High School in 1959.  He then attended Junior College in Webster City and graduated in 1962.  In that same year he married Maureen Kay Christensen from Audubon, Iowa.  They moved to Des Moines in 1963 where Terry attended Drake University. 

Terry graduated from Drake in 1969 followed by a one-year training program in Medical Technology at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines and then went to work at Des Moines General Hospital doing blood banking and microbiology. In 1972, Terry started Medical School at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines. After graduating in 1975, Terry did a one-year rotating internship, two years of general internal medicine followed by a two-year fellowship at UCLA (1978-1980) in infectious diseases.  He spent three months in Thailand working in a refugee camp before returning with his family to Des Moines from California to begin an infectious disease practice in 1980.  Terry also served as an Associate Professor at Des Moines Osteopathic University from 1991-1997.

Until 2007, Terry saw private patients, conducted research with antiviral medications, and consulted on patients in several hospitals in Des Moines.  He was medical director of Hyperbaric and Wound Care at Des Moines General Hospital from 1999-2004.  In 2007, he closed his infectious disease and research office practice and became Medical Director at Concentra Occupational Health doing disability and workman’s compensation physicals.  He retired 11 years later.

Terry is survived by his wife Maureen and their five children: Lisa R. Kurtz-Romano (John Romano), Waukee, IA, Angela (Kenny) Lussow, Sussex, WI, Timothy O. Kurtz, Urbandale, IA, daughter-in-law Debbra Kurtz, West Des Moines, IA, Scott (Melinda) Kurtz, Panora, IA and Tina S. Kurtz-Hulten (Adam Hulten), Urbandale, IA.  Terry and Maureen have been blessed with sixteen grandchildren; Madison (Romano) Walker, Laura Romano, Mariah Romano, Darren Lussow, Andrew Lussow, Matthew Lussow, Lauren Lussow, Logan Kurtz, Jenna Kurtz, Hannah Kurtz, Megan Kurtz, Owen Kurtz, Alexandrea Kurtz, Grace Hulten, Abby Hulten and Jack Hulten and five-great grandchildren; Andrea Romano-Walker, Aria Romano-Walker, Lila Mikel, Weston Mikel and Chase Lussow.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., with a celebration of life visitation gathering for family and friends from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., both on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at Ernst Funeral Home, Waukee.  Terry will be laid to rest at the Waukee Cemetery.  Memorial Donations may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Terry’s memorial.