Kenneth G. Kurth, age 84, passed peacefully in his home in Mendota, IL on April 10, 2020 with family by his side following a year of battling pancreatic cancer.

Born in Madison, WI in 1935 to Peter and Cecilia (Kuehn) Kurth, Ken was the eighth of nine children, and

graduated from Madison East High School in 1954. Upon completing Quartermaster School in the US Army, he served in the US Army from 1956 to 1958 in Hanau, Germany.

On February 4, 1967, he married Margaret A. Regan of Rickardsville, IA at St. Bernard's Parish in Madison, WI. In 1973, he joined the First State Bank of Mendota as a commercial lending officer. Recognizing his experience and expertise, the bank later promoted him to head its trust department, an apt role for someone everyone trusted. He retired from the First State Bank in 1999.

Ken was a pillar of his adopted community of Mendota and his civic record included service to the Kiwanis Club, the Elks Club, the Graves-Hume Public Library Board, the Mendota Lutheran Home, Holy Cross Church, and Boy Scout Troup 102. Recognizing his generosity and service, the Kiwanis Club honored Ken with the George F. Hixson fellowship award.

As president of the then-Graves Public Library Board, Ken elicited help from his friend and philanthropist Horace Hume to fund the construction of a new library. In an interview with the Mendota Reporter , Mr. Hume credited Ken for inspiring him to build the library as a lasting tribute to Mr. Hume's late son James. Mr. Hume also knew Ken had put his heart and soul into the effort, and therefore specified the grounds nearby be recognized as Kurth Park. In April of '93, The Chicago Tribune highlighted Mendota's successful library campaign with an article called "Does Santa live in Mendota?".

Ken and Margaret were married for over 53 years and have fond memories of celebrating their 40 ^th and 50 ^th anniversaries with relatives and friends. Given Ken's disdain of flying, he and Margaret experienced memorable car trips with their sons in the 70s and 80s.

In retirement, Ken and Margaret traveled by car, bus, train, or cruise to Alaska, California, New England, Seattle, New Orleans and Canada, as well as countless trips to Florida and Washington, DC to visit their children and grandchildren. Inspired by the honorable service of three of his brothers in World War II, Ken was an avid reader and aficionado of WWII history – always ensuring visits to notable museums and historic sites. Friends that were Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fans will recall limitless razzing back and forth with him, given Ken was an unwavering advocate for the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.

In addition to his wife, Margaret, he is survived by his sons Gregory (Robyn) of Arlington Heights and Timothy (Christine) Alexandria, VA, and grandchildren Alexander and Moselle of Arlington Heights, and Canon and Christian of Alexandria, VA. He is also survived by his sisters Janet Jewell and Donna Lindauer of Madison, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents Cecelia and Peter, and his brothers Harold, Russell and Gerald, and sisters Aline and Veronica. His brother Ronald died on the same day in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

Ken will be buried with military honors at Resurrection Cemetery in Madison, WI. Due to the pandemic, the family will announce at a later date a memorial Mass at Holy Cross Church, Mendota. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to Graves-Hume Public Library Trust or Holy Cross Catholic School.