Age: 76
KURZROCK, Phyllis E.
Paw Paw
"The only way to have a friend is to be one." Ralph Waldo Emerson's wise advice was given to Phyllis Pratt Kurzrock by a caring third grade teacher when her young pupil complained of having no friends. Phyllis' life-long commitment to that principle was demonstrated by the hundreds of people who called her "friend", and who mourn her death on January 28, 2009 at her home in Paw Paw, Michigan. Mrs. Kurzrock was born on Christmas, in Atalissa, Iowa. Her early years were spent on farms in Illinois where she was characterized by all who knew her as the ultimate "tom boy. She graduated as Valedictorian from Wethersfield Township High School in Kewanee, Illinois, in 1950. In 1951 she married Robert C. Kurzrock, a member of the U.S. Navy, and when he completed his term of service in 1953, they moved to LaGrange, Illinois where her husband began his twenty-two years of service with the LaGrange Fire Department. Phyllis was employed as Administrative Aide for the Superintendent of Schools of District 102 for many of those years. In 1977, following retirement in Illinois, the Kurzrocks bought a fruit farm in Van Buren County, Michigan. In addition to growing grapes and cherries on the farm, Mrs. Kurzrock served for twenty years as secretary for the Van Buren County Road Commission. She retired from that position in 2003. Mrs. Kurzrock was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Paw Paw, an avid bridge player, a Chicago Cubs fan without peer, a supporter of local activities, and a good and forever friend to the many people with whom she came in contact. In addition to her many friends, Phyllis is mourned by her beloved family. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1994 and her son, Bill, in 2005. Surviving are her daughters, Patricia (Bill) Kulis and Barbara (Paul) Immoos and her daughter-in-law, Terri Kurzrock, nine grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren enjoyed their grandmother's unconditional love. Visitation will be Friday (1/30) 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Adams Funeral Home, Paw Paw. Funeral services will be held Saturday, 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Paw Paw with Rev. Mark Whittaker officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Memory Gardens, Kewanee, Illinois on Monday Feb. 2nd at 1 p.m. CTS. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Paw Paw, Michigan.
