David A. Kurtzhal's Obituary
On Sunday, April 28, 2019, David Kurtzhal, loving husband, father of two, and grandfather of four, passed away at the age of 67.
David was born March 3, 1952 in Muskegon, MI to Roy and Irene Kurtzhal. He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1971 and proudly graduated top of his class in Paris Island, CA, earning his Dress Blues. His service saw him stationed in Numazu Beach, Japan and Kin Red Beach, Okinawa. He received commendations as a rifle sharpshooter and was awarded a National Defense Service Medal before receiving an honorable discharge in 1977. On January 31,1974, David married the love of his life Diana Elena Muñoz in Santa Ana, CA. The couple raised two children, Jennifer and Jacob.
David attended Muskegon Community College, earning an associates degree in computer programming. After working at Howmet in Whitehall for 14 years, he began his own contracting company, Kurtzhal and Kurtzhal Builders. He continued working there until his retirement in March of 2019.
David was a passionate man with many interests. From an early age he loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, as well as gardening, winemaking, and beekeeping later in his life. When he was only 18 years old, David hitchhiked to Florida, caught a sailboat to the Bahamas and became a fishing guide for tourists. On that early journey, he left Michigan with a brand-new pair of boots, and by the time he arrived in Florida, the soles were worn through completely.
David's passion for hunting led him on trips to Texas, Montana, Alaska, Canada, and Wyoming by horseback. David also spent time in his teens playing bass guitar and singing in a band. His love for music continued throughout his life, and he was rarely seen without the radio playing or singing a song to himself. He loved karaoke and was known for singing songs like Whiskey Girl, Friends in Low Places, and Proud to be an American. Dave was also a terrific dancer, enjoying line dancing, two-stepping, and cumbias with Dee. He was also an avid woodworker with boundless imagination and talent. As an artist he loved to challenge himself, and he spent countless hours making furniture and cabinetry, creating realistic wildlife carvings, relief carvings, and gun stocks. Much of his artistic work were keepsakes for the family, and he even created jewelry for his loving wife Dee.
More than any other passion, David loved his family and always spent as much time as possible with his grandchildren: Paloma (16), Bella (14), Chase (10), and Scarlett (6). He never missed a birthday, game, meet, or performance, and the grandkids were HIS pride and joy. He took every opportunity to share a photo with friends or tell a story about "the kids." David was gentle, patient, and kind and left us just as he lived.
David was proceeded in death by his parents and his sister Sherry (Denny) Schmuker. He is survived by his wife Diana, two children, four grandchildren, his two brothers Ronald and Bud (Robin), and numerous family members in Texas, Illinois, and throughout Michigan.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Shoreline Memorial Services of White Lake at 1 o'clock p.m. The visitation will be held beforehand at 12 p.m. Flowers can be sent to 816 S. Mears Ave. Whitehall, MI 49461. Donations can be made to Operation Homefront,
operationhomefront.org
.
Arrangements by Shoreline Memorial Services of Whitehall
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