Ida Mardell “Mardi” Kurtz , age 86, of Cushing, passed away on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the St. John Lutheran Church of Cushing with the Rev. Wayne C. Pfannkuch officiating.   Burial will be at the Cushing Cemetery of Cushing.  A visitation will be held on Friday, January 20, 2017 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein. 

Mardell Kurtz went to her heavenly home Sunday January 15, 2017, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born to Ole and Josie Birkley, July 17th, 1930 in Maskell, Nebraska.  Mardell was the only girl with six brothers.  She attended country school with her brothers and graduated in 1948 from Ponca High School in Ponca, Nebraska.  Mardell attended Wayne State Teachers College, then taught for 2 years in a one room school house near Jackson, Nebraska.  September 24th, 1950 Mardell united in marriage to Merle Kurtz and they lived on their family farm in Cushing, Iowa, where they raised 5 children, they also have 15 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. 

Mardell’s commitment to her faith and her family was unwavering.  Caring for all of them, she was always cooking, preparing family meals and baking special things for each of them brought her great joy.  Mardell also loved to yodel, play the accordion, sing and dance a bit in her kitchen.  Mardell was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cushing, where she was active in Circle, choir and taught Sunday School for many years.  As her children became more independent, Mardell also found her calling as a Nurse’s Aide at the Correctionville Nursing home.  Merle and Mardell moved from the family farm to Char Mac Assisted Living in Holstein, in August of 2013 and to Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Holstein, in May of 2016.

Mardell is survived by her husband of 67 years, Merle, son, Gary (Cheri), Correctionville, Brant (Alison), Colton and Daxton; Justin (Larissa), Ryver, Reif and Ireland; Cody (Trish), Piper, Ciara and Taryn.  Daughter, Nancy (Donavon) Noe, Holstein, Blake (Melissa), Cove; Bart (Jacque), Mila, Mara and Remington; Son, Bob (Nancy) Kurtz, Correctionville, Alicia (Nathan) Drury, Nash; Tressa (Mark) Kurtz, Rogan; Ashton (Steve) Huffman, Jacob and Grant; Sami McCrea, Tyrel McCrea; Daughter, Jane (Wes) Kurtz-Teal, Sioux Falls, SD, Kristina (Krissy) Bridges, Lacey Bridges, Lindsay (Josh) Teal-Ambrose, Magdalen; Daughter, Sherry (Paul) Kurtz-Anderson, Canton, SD, Matthew and Nathan. 

Brother Mike (Phyllis) Birkley, Hubbard, NE, Sisters-in-law Edna Birkley, Ponca and Della Wolf, Cherokee, plus several nieces and nephews.

Mardell is preceded in death by her parents Ole and Josie Birkley.  Her brothers and sisters-in-law, Lynn Birkley, Dale (Evelyn) Birkley, Ray (Joyce) Birkley, Joe (Janet) Birkley and Wally (Joy) Birkley.

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