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Martha Katharina Kuerschner (born Trippel), 88, of Des Montes, devoted and loving mother and wife, and cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on December 31, 2002. She was born on May 12, 1914, in Hanau, Germany to Katharina and Wilhelm Trippel. Her brother Wilhelm Erich (WWII) and her parents, as well as her husband Helmut A. Kuerschner, preceded her in death. She worked as a social worker and nurse in the greater Gross-Gerau/Dieburg area in Germany, servicing many smaller villages by bicycle, including Sickenhoffen, where her mother's family lived for countless generations. In 1948, together with her three children, she joined her husband in the U.S. where he was working on the early missile program (later to become NASA) for the U.S. military with other German scientists under Werner Von Braun. She gave generously of her nursing skills to friends with cancer, nursing them either in their homes, or at times in her own, during her nursing career in the United States. She enjoyed gardening, camping, sewing, knitting and rug-making, and made sure that her son had an opportunity at American baseball as a young boy. She had an enormous love and appreciation for her adopted country. Grandchildren remember her for her traditional qualities, including knitted clothing as children and countless care packages while at college. She is survived by her three children, Waltraud I. Kuerschner-Burton and husband Grady Burton of Talpa, Erich Kuerschner of Des Montes, and Christa Rodriguez and husband Rick of Meeker, Colorado, and nine grandchildren: Allegra Heidelinde, Ariana Kramer, and Ilse Burton-Caroline MacLaren (Colin), Anna Dvortcsak (Alex), Vivian Kuerschner and their mother Suzanne Kuerschner-Carla Rodriguez, Steve Rodriguez (Holly), and Chad Rodriguez (Suzette), and two great-granddaughters, Ellison Rodriguez and Anna Rodriguez. Surviving German relatives include her two cousins, Hilde Sauerwein and Martha Hagedorn, Erna Hallfarth, nephew Klaus Kuerschner and wife Barbara, their son Martin Kuerschner (Alexandra) and his daughter, Anastasia, niece Inge Laux (Stefan), Dieter Kuerschner & family (Fuerth), Erika Liebetrau & family (Thueringen), as well as many others. The family wishes to extend special thanks to many local health providers, including Dr. White, Morley Anderson, the nurses at Mountain Home Healthcare, her loving caregivers, Grace and Frances Olguin, Astrid Nemer, as well as Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. There will be a memorial gathering at Martha's home on Sunday, January 12, from 12-4 p.m. for anyone interested in participating (for directions call 776-5970 or 758-0473. In lieu of flowers please contribute in some fashion to CAV, CASA, Mountain Home Healthcare, a cancer organization, or any other community organization of your choice.
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