Harold K. Gurtler

Harold K. Gurtler, 77, of Beattie, KS, died January 20, 2015 at Lincoln, NE. Visitation was Friday, January 23 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. The family received friends 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 24 at Salem Lutheran Church southeast of Beattie. Rev. Larry Nelson officiated. The musicians were Shirley Polson, Ashley Mason and Mark Holt. Music included "Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art” and congregational hymn “In the Garden”. The pallbearers were Travis Mason, Ben Gurtler, Jared Mason, Blake Gurtler, Mitchell Moore, Matthew Moore and Heather Schremmer. Burial was in the church cemetery. Harold K. Gurtler was born April 5, 1937 at Axtell, KS, the son of John W. Gurtler and Vernie O. Bergmann Gurtler. In 1955, he graduated from Beattie High School. After high school he joined the U.S. Army where he served from 1955 to 1957. Following his military service, he worked for three years as an underwriter for Mutual of Omaha. On December 28, 1957, he married Carol K. Nelson. They celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this past December. In April 1960, he decided to move back to his family’s farm, which had been in the Gurtler family for over a century. He lived on the Gurtler family farm until his passing and his wife, Carol, continues to live there. Harold was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and served on the Church Board. He was very active in the community, serving on various boards in the area including Guittard Township Board, Marshall County Soil Conservation Board, Vermillion Watershed Board, and the board of Guittard Estates Housing Facility in Beattie. He was also a member of Farm Bureau and Beattie Coop. He served as Marshall County Commissioner for District No. 3 for two terms. During his time as commissioner, he served on the Big Lakes Board. In 1999, he had brain surgery at Mayo Clinic. From this time forward, he was disabled. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Gwen Shoot; and brother, Howard. Survivors include his wife, Carol Gurtler, Beattie; children, Cindy (Gary) Mason, Marysville, Doug (Loretta) Gurtler, Beattie, David (Marybeth) Gurtler, Colorado Springs, CO, and Cheryl (Mark) Moore, Andale. He will also be greatly missed by his seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Memorial contributions should be made to Harold Gurtler Memorial to be designated by the family later and sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harold K. Gurtler, please visit our flower store.