Charles F. Kurfess, 94, of Perrysburg passed away peacefully on March 1st at his home. He was born February 1, 1930 to John F. and Margaret (Zingg) Kurfess. He married Helyn Rudolph on June 2, 1956 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Stony Ridge and they celebrated 67 years of marriage. Raised in Perrysburg Township, Chuck graduated from Troy Luckey High School, received a Bachelor’s Degree from Bowling Green State University where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, completed graduate work at Wayne State University and received his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University.
As a law student at Ohio State University, Chuck was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. From 1956 to 1978 he would represent parts of northwestern Ohio in the House. For much of his tenure in the House, Chuck would serve as the ranking Republican holding the title of Speaker of the House or Minority Leader. He would also serve on the Governing Board of the Executive Committee of the Council of State Governments, an appointment by Presidents Nixon and Ford.
Chuck also maintained a law firm in Bowling Green for over 30 years. Following his retirement from the House, he was elected to two terms as a judge in the Wood County Court of Common Pleas and after retirement from the court would continue to serve Northwest Ohio as a visiting judge into his 80’s.
His career in public service led to many awards of distinction for Kurfess including: Bowling Green State University Outstanding Alumnus, Bowling Green State University Centennial Alumni Award; Ohio State University Alumni Archie M. Griffin Professional Achievement Award; Thomas J. Moyer Award for Judicial Excellence; and the Eastwood Alumni Hall of Fame. Chuck also served on various committees and task forces for the Ohio Judicial Conference, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission. Kurfess was a founding member of the National Council of State Legislatures and vice president and president of the organization.
Chuck served in the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corp in the Far East during the Korean War. A lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stony Ridge, Chuck served the congregation in many leadership roles.
The greatest roles in the life of Chuck Kurfess were those he held in his family…a true patriarch as husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and sibling. Left to cherish the wisdom and love he bestowed on all are his wife, Helyn; children Todd (Cheryl) Kurfess, Ann (Warren) Hale, and Laura (Richard) Hertzfeld; his grandchildren Lucas (Melissa) Hale, Kraig (Brooke) Hale, Grant (Cara) Hale, Eleanor Hertzfeld, and Amy (Riley) Brown; his great grandchildren Sophie, Peyton, Archer, Ridge, June, Knox, Charlie, Oaklynn, and Wyatt; and sister Dr. Nancy Johnson. Preceding him in death were his parents, brothers John and James, and great granddaughter Libbe Rose.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024 from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 5520 Fremont Pike, Stony Ridge, Ohio. A memorial service to be held at the church on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 11a.m. Family will receive visitors beginning at 10 a.m., until time of service. Officiating will be, Pastor Cindy Ritter. Chuck will be laid to rest in Troy Township Cemetery at a family committal service. Officiating will be, Rev. Robert Johnson. Arrangements are being handled by Marsh and Marsteller Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials take the form of contributions to: St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hospice of NW Ohio, or Bowling Green State University Foundation, Charles, and Helyn Kurfess Scholarship-Arts & Sciences. Those wishing to share a condolence with the family may do so at www.marshfuneralhomes.com.
