Jay Asa Kurth

Jay Asa Kurth, 91, of Savanna, Illinois, died Friday, October 21, 2016 at Forest Glen Memory Care Center in Springfield, OH, with family at his side.
Jay was born August 23, 1925 at home in Anamosa, IA, the son of Asa and Eula (Clark) Kurth. Jay enlisted in the Army in 1943 at the age of 18 and was a paratrooper in the 17th Airborne Division. He married Kathryn Kross, with whom he celebrated 61 years of wonderful marriage, in February, 1944 while training in California. Jay then did combat duty on the European Front.
After the war, Jay and Katie farmed near Argo Fay for four years before buying a farm near Wacker in 1950. In addition to farming, he sold Kent Feeds with Harold Buck and ran a canned milk route in the 1950's. In the early 1960's, he established his own Dairy Products Distribution business, delivering to homes in the Savanna, Mt. Carroll and Hanover areas as well as wholesale to Sullivan Groceries and other stores in the area. His devoted partner for many of the twenty-five years he operated his business was Harold "Lefty" Maus of Savanna. In 1985, Jay retired from the business and sold Real Estate with Bud Bull for many years. He also served as Assistant County Assessor for several years.
Jay was a leader in the community. He helped start the Little League in Savanna in the mid-1950's and was a board member and President of Center Hill School in the late 1950's. He was a member of the Savanna City Council and served on the Savanna Park Board for 28 years. He and Katie also served in various leadership capacities over the years for St. John's Catholic Church.
Jay was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Katie, his parents, one granddaughter, Lisa (Joe and Marianne) of Boone, IA, and one great grandson, Austin (Michael and Mary) of Roxana, IL. He is survived by his sister, Deloris Goodrow, of East Moline, his three children, Ron of Springfield, OH, Joe and his wife Marianne of Lexington, KY, and Kathie and her husband Donnie Adams of Solon Springs, WI. Also by 8 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna. Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the Funeral Mass at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Burial will take place in St. John's Catholic Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at lawjonesfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made in Jay's memory for Old Mill Park in Savanna.