James Morton Kurth, 83, of Pollock, LA and formerly of Tama, passed away April 1, 2019 at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, LA due to a short illness. Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 5, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Lisa Sieck officiating. Interment will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be held Friday, April 5, 2019 from 9 AM until the time of service at the funeral home.

James was born on November 10, 1935, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Merlin and Henrietta Kurth.

He joined the Marines in 1955 through 1959, then returned to Marshalltown to work for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for over thirty years.

On June 17, 1961, he married Peggy LuDean Tankersley from Rotan, Texas.

Survivors include his children, James Dean (Letha) Kurth of Malcom, Elizabeth (Steve) Ledvina of Toledo, and Bambi (Rod) Kriegel of Laurel; seven grandchildren, Dillon and Macayla Gregson Kurth and their children, Logan, Rylee, Kayson, and Colton, James Lundy Kurth and his children, Braydon and Tatum Kurth, Justin and Ali Kriegel, Jacob and Megan Ledvina and their children, Carter, Cooper, and Baby Girl Ledvina, Josh and Holly Ledvina McAdoo, Joshua Ledvina, and Brooke Kurth; one brother, Michael (Wava) Kurth of Marshalltown, one sister, Barb Ohrt of Marshalltown; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Steve and Patti Smith of Pollock, LA and Ms. Rita Boyd of Pollock, LA; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, along with many friends.

He will join his wife Peggy and their son, Timothy Kurth, grandson, Levi Kriegel, and brother, Steven Kurth.

James will be remembered by his nieces and nephews from Louisiana as the last real cowboy they ever knew. As for family and friends from Iowa as the only man that never wore a shirt unless he had to go to town and then it was a chore to make him button it up.

Memorials may be directed to the Toledo American Legion.