Surnames: Durst, Lightfoot, Reich, Van Kirk, Hause, Sieg, Scholze, Marg, Schutte, Kurasz, Zank, Kopinski, Hollett, Mohr

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) October 1, 2008

Durst, James Irvin (19 February - 28 September 2008) With Flag

James Durst, 94, Neillsville, died Sunday, September 28, 2008, at the Memorial Health and Rehabilitation Center in Neillsville.

James Irvin Durst was born February 19, 1914, to James DeRoy and Jane (Lightfoot) Durst in Fairchild. He graduated from Fairchild High School and enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1942. He married Martha Reich. They lived in Milwaukee until they retired and then moved to Neillsville. James liked to golf and fish. He learned to knit at a young age and enjoyed that hobby throughout his life.

He is survived by his wife, Martha of Neillsville, and two stepchildren, Dolores (Warren) Van Kirk from Verona and Norman (Margie) Hause of Conrad, MT; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

He is further survived by two brothers, Ivan Durst of Neillsville and Raymond Durst of Fairchild; five sisters, Dorothy Sieg of Fairchild, Leone Scholze of Black River Falls, Betty Marg of Black River Falls, Vivian Schutte of Neillsville and Ella Jean (Clarence) Scholze of Rudolph.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Neil and Virgil; two sisters, Ethel (Alvin) Schutte and Eva (William) Kurasz, both of Neillsville.

Funeral Services for James will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville, Pastor James Mohr will officiate. Providing music will be Eileen Zank, organist. Burial will be in the Fairchild Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by the Neillsville Veterans Council. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday morning prior to the service at the funeral home.

Serving as Casketbearers will be Charles Durst, Kenneth Durst, Donald Schutte, Joseph Kopinski, Chad Hollett and Leonard Reich.

The Gesche Funeral Home of Neillsville is assisting James’s family with arrangements.