Delores W. Kurta

GILE, Wis. — Delores W. Kurta, of Gile, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 13, 2016, after a nearly six-year battle with cancer.

Arriving prematurely at home, on Aug. 1, 1930, to William (Buck) Rowe and Rene (Irene/Rena) Rowe of Ironwood, Mich., Delores’ early arrival was riddled with complications. With the family having limited resources, lack of proper medical care and equipment, Delores’ diminutive size, and extremely low birth weight, was viewed as insurmountable, and the local doctor prepared the Rowes for the grim, but inevitable outcome. But “he didn’t know our Mom,” which became a personal anthem, especially over the past six years. With the love, and support of her family, and the determination and drive they all share, Delores won the battle for her place in the world, and a forever home in the hearts of all who knew her.

Over the past six years, each time the prognosis was negative, and the words we heard were “it’s just a matter of time,” Delores, armed with her eternal optimism, sheer determination and fierce love of family, would fight her way back, surprising the medical professionals and extending the precious time she had with her family. They just “didn’t know our Mom.”

Growing up in Ironwood and graduating from Luther L. Wright High School in 1948, Delores developed a strong sense of family, a mutual respect for everyone she encountered, a tough work ethic and a wonderful, clever sense of humor that she readily shared with everyone and handily passed on to her children, for which we are so grateful. For those of you who “didn’t know our Mom,” you missed out. She was really special.

Delores worked a variety of jobs growing up, but what became the most significant to Delores was the one at her parents’ restaurant, where she met her future husband, Michael L. Kurta, to whom she was married for 63 years, before his passing in July of 2013, with Delores by his side.

Delores is survived by the five children she and Michael raised at their home in Gile, Jean V. (the late Marvin) Maki, Ironwood, Gary (Debra) Kurta, Uniontown, Wash., Sharen (Wayland) Koski, Chesapeake, Va., Cheryl (Jerome “Jerry”) Sokolowski, Ironwood, and Penny (Kurt) Kluhsman, Hurley.

While her children were young, Delores worked various odd jobs, including cleaning houses with her neighbor and close friend Ethel Frigo. The rest of her professional life was spent at Lutey’s Flower Shop, Ironwood, working for the original owners, Ernie and Laverne Lutey, and subsequent owners, Linda and the late James Schlicher, until her retirement in the mid-1980s due to a back injury.

Delores is also survived by sisters, Margaret Kauppi, Tow, Texas, and Arnette Magnuson, Arlington Heights, Ill .; brothers, William (Judy) Rowe, Fox River Grove, Ill., and John Rowe, Goleta, Calif .; grandchildren, Steven Kurta, Lompoc, Calif., Kari (Ryan) Fictum, Cheyene, Wyo., Nikki (Brent) Lane, Uniontown, Heather Brandis, Virginia Beach, Va., Kristie Ricks, Chesapeake, Jerry Sokolowski Jr., Bayfield, Bryan (Randi) Sokolowski, Wakefield, Mich., Kristopher and Holly Kluhsman, Hurley; and 11 great-grandchildren, Quinn, Riley, Ayzlin, Khanu and Josalyn Ricks, Matthew, Daniel, Stormy, Jacob and Chance Sokolowski, and Maesyn Lane.

Besides her husband, Michael, and parents, William and Rene Rowe, Delores was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly Correll; brothers-in-law, Andrew Magnuson, Walter Kauppi, Robert O’Leary, Bernard Kurta, Kenneth Buttson, Marvin Maki and Louis Kurta; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy O’Leary, Marion Buttson, Betty Kurta, Sue Kurta and Teresa Kurta.

A private family celebration of Delores’ life is being planned for a later date.

Mom, though remaining small in stature throughout your life, you became a giant staple in all of our lives, holding things together when no one else could, and knowing when to let go, when the timing was right. You were the perfect example of unconditional love, the calm port in a storm, the voice of reason and the model of what it means to forgive. You taught us about compassion, understanding, self-respect and respecting others. You let us know that life was not fair; it was all about balance, that not only should you refrain from judging people by their appearances or circumstances, but refrain from judging them at all. You encouraged us to be our best selves, to stop being our own worst critics, to be honest with others, but especially ourselves, and to hold our heads high through a storm of chaos, otherwise we may miss the light at the end of the tunnel, if our heads were facing down. You taught us how to use humor to ease a bad situation, how to be there for family in times of crisis, and your final lesson, how to die with dignity, grace and, yes, even beauty. You were beautiful inside and out Mom, and the void that you leave can never be filled, but thankfully our hearts and memories are; and each time we open them up and reminisce, we can smile and laugh and feel the warmth of your presence and your eternal embrace. Thank you for everything Mom, we love you more than we can ever express.