Thomas W. Kurtzhals, 95, of Shippenville passed away peacefully Thursday, September 28, 2017 surrounded by family at the Clarion Hospital. 

Born January 26, 1922, on the family homestead in Paints Mills, Tom was the son of Henry Gerheart Kurtzhals and Mary Laughlin Kurtzhals.

Tom attended the Paint Mills one-room school house until 9th grade at which time he went to Shippenville High School where he graduated from.  While in school Tom had to help on the family farm with chores including herding the cattle back to the barn, harvesting crops and supplying the family with ice which the pulled from Paint Creek.

After graduation Tom worked in a coal mine and lumber mill before joining the Army in 1941. He trained at Fort Belvoir, VA., before being assigned to the 5th Engineers Combat Battalion.  Tom saw duty in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Holland and Germany, arriving in Europe on D-Day +20.  After returning from the Army Tom moved to Pittsburg where he attended barber school.  He then moved to Knox where he opened Tommy's Barber Shop, where he cut hair for 50 years and always said he needed your head in his business.

In 1948 Tom married Claire Seybert.   After 50 years of marriage Claire sadly passed away, but Tom was fortunate to find love a second time.  In 2000 Tom married Eleanor Holliday Deitz who survives.

Tom enjoyed gardening, dining out, hunting, fishing and crossword puzzles.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Knox Lions and the Immaculate Conception Church in Clarion.

Tom is survived by his wife Eleanor, his six children, Jeanne and Bud Schmader of Myrtle Beach, David and Diane Kurtzhals of Elizabethtown, Susan and Joe Giardino of Highland Park NJ, Chris and Della Kurtzhals of Shippenville, Craig Kurtzhals of Chadds Ford, and Amy and John Cale of Hudson OH, Eleanor’s three children Bob and Sue Dietz, Peggy and Gerald Wetzel and Randy and Judy Deitz, 20 grand children and 19 great grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by his first wife Claire, a grand daughter Jennifer Beisswanger, a daughter in law Gail Kurtzhals and his brothers and sisters Frank, Larry, Dick, Henry, Francie, Annie, Mary, Bernadine “Fox” and Florence.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home, 504 East Penn. Ave, Knox, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Immaculate Conception Church, 720 Liberty St., Clarion.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. B. LaMounte "Monty" Sayers officiating.  Interment will follow at the St. Michael Cemetery in Fryburg. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Clarion-Forest VNA, P.O. 271 Perkins Road, Clarion, 16214.

To view and share photos or leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.mcentire-weaverfuneralhome.com.

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