Joseph Kurrent

Joseph Kurrent, 94, passed away March 12, 2016 at The Slovene Home for the Aged.  He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 22, 1921 to the late Joseph and Caroline (nee Trzan).

Joe, who was called “Jokes” by his boyhood friends, was married for 72 years to Dorothy M. (nee Ogrinc). He married Dorothy shortly before he left for Europe and World War II.  While Joe served overseas in the U.S. Army, he would write to Dorothy every day.  They both attributed his survival of WW II and the Battle of the Bulge to that marriage.  For the rest of his life, Joe honored his country by proudly flying the flag every day.

For most of his working career, Joe worked as a machinist for Addressograph-Multigraph before and after his war service.  Later he went to work for Parker Hannifin as a printer, until he retired in 1986 at the age of 65.

Joe was a member of the SNPJ Strugglers. He spent his free time watching the Cleveland Indians and other favorite TV programs. Joe was a kind, generous personand a man of few words, possessing a quiet strength which put others at ease.  He was extremely proud of his family and always supported his friends.  With Joe, strangers became friends.  And with his new-found friends, Joe proudly shared stories of his son’s accomplishments.  And you could count on Joe to always have a pen handy.

In addition to his loving wife, Joe is survived by his sons, Jim (wife Patti) of Howard, Ohio; Dave (wife Anna) of Pinole, California; Stephen of Strongsville, Ohio; grandchildren Megan Fargnoli (husband Dan) of Melbourne, Florida; Mande Hensley (husband Ron) of New Albany, Ohio; great-grandchildren Jarrod, Caitlyn and Thomas; step-grandfather of Judie Morton (husband Ron) of Rochester, WA, and great-grandfather of William and Westley.

For those who never met Joe, from 2013, this is his story, written in his own words:

“I, Joseph Kurrent, Jr., was born on August 22, 1921 to Joseph Kurrent Sr. and Caroline Trzan Kurrent in Cleveland, Ohio.

 I do not remember my mother as she passed away when I was about 6 or 7 years old.  I was told that she took very good care of me.  She was laid in state at her home, 226 East 172nd Street, the custom at that time.  She is buried at St. Paul Cemetery.

 My dad, Joseph Kurrent never spoke of his life in Europe nor in America.  He married his second wife, Francis, when I was 11 years old, never telling me that he was getting married for the 2nd time.  She had a daughter named Ida from her first marriage.  We got along very well.

Joseph, Sr. worked all his life at General Glass, installing plate glass windows, among other things.  He passed away on April 9, 1962, five days after his third grandson, Stephen, was born, which he never saw.  He never really knew any of his grandsons because of his second wife.

 As a boy, I grew-up as all boys do, sometimes getting into trouble, like gang fights, etc., but mostly behaving.

 I attended Nottingham School, Collinwood High and East Tech.  After classes, I would go to the glass factory and do various chores for 25 cents an hour.  When I quit school in the 11th grade, I worked full time at the glass factory.  Each pay-day my father would get my check and cash it giving me $5.  We would stop for a beer on the way home.  

In May, 1942, I got a job at Addressograph-Multigraph in Euclid.  I worked there until I was drafted into the Army on August 25th, three days after I turned 22.  

 I served as a medic with the 16th General Hospital until I was discharged on December 2, 1945.  I left the USA on a convoy to England and then in July landed in France, and then Liege, Belgium where we set up our hospital.  

I worked the nightshift in a ward and we had German prisoners assisting us.  I also received my sergeant strips then.  We were told during the Battle of the Bulge we would be on our own if overtaken by the Germans.  They were about 3 miles away from us when they stopped.  We stayed in Liege until the end of the war.  Our unit was broken up and I came back on the Queen Mary.  When I arrived at the Cleveland train station, Dorothy and her Dad were there to greet me.  A sight for sore eyes.

 In November, 1940, I went with two of my friends to a dance at the Slovenian Hall on Waterloo Road, where I met a gal, Dorothy.  We took to each other right away and after meeting her there a few times, we would leave the dance and take a long walk and would sit on the back porch for a few minutes before saying goodnight.  The first time I kissed her, I bit her lip.  I finally asked her out for a date.  One thing that we had to do was check in with her mother, who worked in their meat and grocery store, before going out.  All the ladies who were shopping would gape at us.  We would go to a neighborhood movie or take a bus or streetcar downtown as I didn’t have a car.  We dated each Saturday, and during the summer of 1941, roller skated at Euclid Beach Park.

 Thanksgiving and Christmas of 1941, I was invited to spend the holidays with about 20 or so of her relatives. They were very friendly towards me.

 On my last furlough in November, 1943 before sailing on the convoy to Europe, Dorothy and I were married.  That was with the help of Dorothy’s dad convincing her mom to approve. Dorothy’s Aunt Jeff and Uncle Frank were our witnesses.  During the ceremony, conducted by a justice of the peace, Zaul, a drunk, popped into the room.  Dorothy, when asked what her name is, answered Dorothy Ogrinc and not Dorothy Kurrent.  I poked her in the ribs.  

All of her family, plus Ida and Jerry Dragonetti attended a family dinner.  We had to make all of the arrangements in two days, but we did it.  The Hollenden Hotel gave us a room that overlooked the Roxy Burlesque and all night long we heard drums.  Guess that’s why two of our sons played drums and one the trumpet.

 When I returned from the Army, we lived upstairs at 429 East 158th Street, until we moved to our new home in Euclid.  Jim and Dave were born while we were living on 158th Street, while Steve was born after we moved to Euclid.  All three of our sons are the greatest.

 I feel that I was lucky with the places where I worked and then my time in the Army, as I always had a cot or bed to sleep in and most of the time had hot food.  I worked at General Glass, AM and Parker Hannifin, retiring on my 65th birthday.

 For many years we attended the 16th General Hospital reunions   We served on the Cleveland Committee starting with the 27th reunion, making good friends.  Our group here in Cleveland would meet each month for fun and games and going out to eat later.  Our best friends were Norman and Nida Scott.  Norm was a plumber and did a lot of work for us.  

 In closing, I want to mention that in my opinion Dorothy’s brother Ronald is the best brother-in-law I could have.  His wife is really great too, as are the rest of the family.  Dorothy had wonderful aunts and uncles and treated me swell.  Her Uncle Fred always would do anything for you.

 So in closing I can say I’ve had a pretty good life and retirement.”

Joe’s family held a private gathering where they remembered him with stories, celebrating his life and the love that he gave to all.  Although his friends and family are greater because of him, he will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.  With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to Joe, truly part of the greatest generation.

Contributions may be made in Joe’s memory to the charity of your choice.

Cremation by DeJohn Crematory. ARRANGEMENTS BY DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY OF Willoughby Hills.