John William "Jack" Kurzrock

John William “Jack” Kurzrock, 82, Rockford, passed away peacefully Friday, January 15, 2016, in his home. He was born November 20, 1933, in Dixon, the son of Charles and Hope Kurzrock. He married Phoebe J. “Penny” Varvayn in Rockford on June 24, 1956, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Jack earned his PhD in Engineering with an emphasis on heat transfer and fluid flow. He was an aeronautical research engineer for Cornell Research Laboratory, General Motors Corporation and Sundstrand Corporation until his retirement. Jack enjoyed playing tennis, winning doubles tennis championships from 1948-1952. He loved to build model airplanes as a youth and could fix most mechanical equipment. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Penny; his daughter, Victoria (Salvatore) Albanese; his granddaughter, Julia Albanese; his sister-in-law, Ingrid Peters; his nieces, Christina Peters and Karla Doyd; his nephews, Keith, Craig, and Chris Kurzrock; several great nieces and great nephews.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday, January 21, 2016, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St. Rockford, with Reverend Jeff Fricke officiating. Burial at Scandinavian Cemetery. Visitation from 11:00 A.M. until 11:45 A.M. on Thursday at the church. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford. Memorials may be made to Rock River Valley Pantry, 1100 Broadway, Rockford, IL 61104 or to Northern Illinois Hospice, 4215 Newburg Rd. Rockford, IL 61108. Share online condolences at www.fitgeraldfh.com.