Carol Kurtz

She was born on Nov. 23, 1942, in Shenandoah, Iowa, to the late Walter Glen Boylan and Mary Elizabeth Baggs Boylan. She married James Royal Kurtz on Nov. 24, 1962, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Growing up on a farm in rural southwest Iowa, Carol spent her younger years helping on the family farm, riding horses, playing clarinet and piano, and performing in many dances, concerts, and baton twirling exhibitions.

She graduated from South Page High School in 1961 and later from the Northwestern Institute of Medical Technology with the Class of 1962.

Carol was baptized in 1963 at the Milwaukee, International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses and spent the rest of her life as an active member of the organization. She attended the Iron River congregation, where she left countless close friends.

Carol began her career in the medical field, but upon moving to the Upper Peninsula, she had a variety of jobs, including raising her family and working on the family farm, working at Ski Brule, the Golden Bow, and lastly as the administrator of the Dickinson Conservation District, where she ran their annual tree sale for many years.

Carol spent the free time she had riding horses, playing pinochle and cribbage, knitting, spending time with family on the farm, watching the birds, and enjoying her flowers and apple orchard, as well as participating in the door-to-door ministry.

Carol is survived by a sister, Sara Annan and brother-in-law, Bill; her son, David Kurtz and daughter-in-law, Theresa; and her daughter, Elisa Beth Servais and son-in-law, Troy; grandchildren Maria Beekman and her husband, Jayson, Ethan Kurtz and his wife, Elizabeth, Airon Servais and wife, Alyssa; her three beautiful great-granddaughters, Rachel, Rebecca and RaeLynn Kurtz; as well as many nieces; nephews; cousins; and longtime good friend Donna Barthelt.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, from 1 until 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 175 Bates-Amasa Road, Iron River, Michigan 49935. The service will follow at 2 p.m.

Carol was predeceased by her parents, Glen and Mary Boylan; her brother, Jerry Boylan; her in-laws, Louis and Gertrude Kurtz; her sisters-in-law, Janette Kurtz and Carol Dombrowski; her brother-in-law, Donald Kurtz Sr.; and her beloved husband, James Royal Kurtz.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Carol’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Crystal Falls to honor Carol’s legacy of life.