Perry J Hurlburt
Perry J. Hurlburt, age 86, of Durand, died Friday, December 21, 2012 at Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand, with his family by his side.
Perry was born on January 12, 1926, in the town of Maxville. He attended Spring Creek School, but as a depression-era child, he started working at a very young age.
Perry was 18 when he enlisted in the Army, to serve in World War II. He served from February of 1944 until being honorably discharged on October 29, 1948, as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He made 26 jumps, liberated prisoners from war camps, and in December of 1944, he fought for our country in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, Perry served under General Eisenhower and was also an Honor Guard at General Patton's funeral. On February 4th, 1948 he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy.
In 1950, he married Frances Schlosser and they settled in Spring Creek, where he farmed and worked at Durand Hardware as HVAC technician. A year later they moved to Bear Creek. Together with Frances, they started their family business in 1959, Hurlburt Heating and Plumbing. Perry served on the Durand School Board from 1970-1979. Perry loved his wife, his children and especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Perry enjoyed fabricating sheet metal, loved to read, listen to classical music and was an avid fisherman and hunter.
Perry is survived by his loving wife Frances of 62 years and their 11 children, Mary Boxeth of Eagan, MN, Michael (Donna), Matthew (Debi), Mark (Sue Ann), Melissa (John) Weber, Max (Karen), Monte (Gay), all of Durand, WI, Myles (Sue) of Wausau, Martha (Jerry “Joe”) Hartung of Elmwood, Maureen (Mike) Krings of Prescott, Myrna (Mike) Barthel of Farmington, MN. He has 26 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; three surviving brothers, Hugh (Claire) of Holyoke, MA, Glen (Cathy Powers) of Durand, Horace (Carol) of Eau Galle; and two sisters, Lola Hurlburt of Durand, and Lana Odegard of Eau Galle; and sisters-in-law, Rose Carlisle, Barb Bauer, Joan Hurlburt, MaryLou Hurlburt and Rosella Schlosser.
He is preceded in death by his parents; James M. and Edna B. (Hill) Hurlburt three brothers, brothers-in-law, and sisters- in-law.