Audrey Kurka

Audrey Kurka was a warm, loving, and caring person who always pitched in to help in ways both great and small. She was a selfless and devoted wife and mother who was deeply cherished by her loved ones. Audrey’s hard work as a mother resulted in grown children of honor and integrity who made her so very proud. Her gracious spirit, fun-loving personality, and compassionate heart will never be forgotten.

The 1960s were a pivotal time in American history when our nation was undergoing great transformations. It was during this time that we elected the young John F. Kennedy as our 35th President of the United States only to mourn his death just a short time later. Civil rights and women’s rights were in the forefront while a disillusionment of government began to set in. We celebrated amazing accomplishments in space during this time, too, as we watched the first man walk on the moon. Amidst this exciting time there was much to be thankful for in the lives of a young couple from Ovid, Michigan, as they welcomed a healthy baby girl into their hearts and home on July 26, 1962, in Owosso. Audrey J. was the oldest of three girls born to her parents, Jean and Kenneth Durham, and was raised in the family home alongside her sisters, Lilly and Martha, in Ovid, a small town in mid-Michigan near Owosso. She attended East Elementary, Ovid Junior High, and Ovid-Elsie High School, graduating in 1980 as the only student to achieve a perfect attendance record. While in school Audrey was involved in FHA (Future Homemakers of America), and she was also involved in the youth groups at her church. In addition, Audrey enjoyed going to her maternal grandparents farm, and she was responsible for helping care for her younger sisters while her mother worked, which instilled a lifelong nurturing spirit within her.

After graduating from school, Audrey went to Florida where she studied to be a travel agent. She returned home and helped out at a small assisted living facility and realized that she liked taking care of people and then went to work at the Ovid Convalescence Manor. Audrey enjoyed her work there and decided it was a great fit.

New and exciting changes were in store for Audrey when she met her husband, Jeff, when she came to Kalamazoo to attend a mutual friend’s wedding during the spring of 1985. Jeff asked her out, and there was instant chemistry between them that became the foundation of a lifetime of love. They found they had something in common right from the start, too, as Jeff was also from Ovid but was living in Kalamazoo at the time. They were married on December 7, 1985, in Ovid at Cavalry Baptist Church with family and friends in attendance. Together they made their home in the Kalamazoo area where their love blossomed to include the births of their two sons, Jacob who was born in April of 1989 and Caleb who was born in June of 1992. As a young wife Audrey had been working at the Upjohn Nursing Home, but once her first son was born she left the workplace to focus her attention at home.

Audrey loved to read. Understanding the importance of reading, she took her pre-school boys to the Comstock library every week and shared this passion by reading stacks of books to them. She also took her sons to the lake, to the zoo, and many other loved places as a family adventure, giving them the memories and knowledge that would shape their lives. During special events and holidays, she would embellish the occasion by making such things as Halloween costumes and special birthday cakes for them.

Once Caleb was four years old in the fall of 1996, Audrey found her niche working for Comstock Schools. She started off working as a playground supervisor at Green Meadows Elementary, where Jacob was going to school, and also filled in for the librarian and the secretary in the office at times. When Comstock Schools set up the paraprofessional program, Audrey moved into one of the positions working with the lower elementary grades, primarily kindergarten and first grade. She still helped the secretary as she could and also kept an eye out for anything else she could find to do to help out the school on her own time. No matter what she was doing, Audrey loved working at Green Meadows. In the 2013-2014 school year she was transferred to the North Elementary to work with the young children, but she was soon moved into a position assisting one of the fourth grade teachers.

When they moved into their first house in Milwood in September of 1986, Audrey and Jeff joined Bethlehem Baptist Church. There, she quickly started helping with the young children in the nursery. Audrey later went on to teach Sunday school and junior church and was also involved with the women’s group. In many ways she was an integral part of the church. When the church became a distribution point for Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, Audrey immediately set about helping with the program every week.

As her children grew older Audrey continued to delight in being a wife and mother. Her oldest son, Jacob, graduated from Michigan Tech in 2012 and then married his high school sweetheart shortly after they both graduated from Michigan Tech. He currently is a lieutenant in the Air Force. Audrey’s younger son, Caleb, is a student at Western Michigan University. She looked forward to being with her sons whenever she could, and she was always so proud of everything they accomplished.

Although her life’s journey ended much too soon, Audrey Kurka made a significant impact in the lives of countless others who were within her reach through her acts of kindness that were given freely and in abundance. She worked hard in everything she did and wasn’t afraid to take on a challenge. Audrey will be deeply missed, but her timeless legacy that is deeply rooted in faith, compassionate service, and unconditional love will be proudly carried on by those who follow her.

Audrey J. Kurka, of Kalamazoo, died on April 17th, 2014. Members of Audrey’s family include her husband Jeff; children, Jacob (Codie) Kurka and Caleb Kurka; parents, Kenneth & Jean Durham; mother-in-law, Mary Kurka; sisters, Lilly Mumby and Martha (Tim) Kelley; sister-in-law, Susan (Chinn) Hwang as well as many other relatives. Visit with her family on Friday, April 25th from 3-5 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church; 2031 E. Cork St, Kalamazoo where a funeral service will follow at 5:00 p.m. Please visit Audrey’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or photo and sign her guest book. Memorial donations may be made to Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. Arrangements handled by Life Story Funeral Homes, Portage; 5975 Lovers Lane (344-5600).