Mr. Richard "Dick" Kurek

Mr. Richard “Dick” Kurek, 81, of Pittsfield, passed away while resting, preparing to spend Christmas Eve beside his family Tuesday, December 24, 2024, just months before celebrating his 81st birthday. Born in Pittsfield, MA, on February 6, 1944, son of the late Stanley and Florence Harding Kurek, he attended local schools and graduated in 1962 from Pittsfield High School’s Vocational Machine Shop Course. Dick loved adventure and looked at his life as such, as it went out before him with many turns in it. He was always looking for a challenge and met it head on. After finishing school, he went to work for GE in Pittsfield. Following their large layoff, he began work for Hamilton Standard in Connecticut, where he was employed until their layoff. Dick decided to join the United States Army in April of 1963. He went to Ft. Dix, New Jersey for basic training. From there, he went to Ft. Eustis, VA for training in aircraft repair. From there, he was sent to Vietnam to work on various aircraft types. After Vietnam, he was sent back to Ft. Eustis, where he completed his three-year enlistment teaching aircraft maintenance repair. After the Army, Dick had plans to get his license to work on aircraft for an airline, but because he had to wait a year and half to start school, he got a job at Pratty-Whitney Aircraft CO in Connecticut until Pittsfield GE Naval Ordnance called him to work. During this period, he met a wonderful lady named Rose Marie Stiles. She wanted to join his adventure, so they got married on April 28, 1967. They were together until 1990 and had three sons. When Dick was ready to start school, they moved to Waltham, MA so he could attend East Coast Aero Technical School in Bedford, MA. He spent two years completing the Aeronautical Technician Course with honors under the GI Bill in February of 1969. He got his AP License, moved to Miami, FL, where he worked rebuilding military aircraft for the AirInternational Corporation until Executive Airlines in Boston called him to work at Pittsfield Airport, so back North they went! Unfortunately, that job did not last long, as Executive Airlines stopped moving Pittsfield, so it was time to move on. Dick went to work at Marland Mold Co until Berkshire Gas hired him. He worked there for 36 years, retiring in 2010 as a service technician. In Dick’s ongoing adventures, he met another wonderful lady, Barbara Jenn Hoctor, that was interested in his adventure. They married on August 2, 1998. They danced their way around the country on many wonderful trips in their RV and ship cruising until Barb passed on September 17, 2015. While working at Berkshire Gas, Dick enlisted in the Air Force Reserves at Westover AFB. He spent 18 exciting years doing tours of duty at bases in the states and overseas in Europe. He was involved with Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as others. He retired from the Air Force in 1993 with a total of 21 years of military service. He was an Air Freight Superintendent with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant when he retired. Dick was very much involved with many Veterans Groups. In all these, he was involved with many activities and boards. He as selected by the Berkshire Veterans Coalition as Veteran of the Dick also loved HO model trains. His grandchildren are going to miss the fun they had with Poppy operating his trains, but, thanks to him, they all know how to run them, too! Dick leaves behind his son, Richard A. of Pittsfield, his son, Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel, Peter F. and his wife Vera (Malon) of Nashua, NH, along with three grandchildren, Rosie, Peter and TJ. There are also three step grandchildren, Emily, Julia, and Ian. He is also survived by his sister, Charlotte O’Brien, and brothers Ken and Stanely, with his wife Kathy. Dick was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, and his first son, Douglas, who died at birth. He was also predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Manship, brothers, Robert and Charles, as well as his parents. Funeral Notice: Funeral services with full military honors for Mr. Richard “Dick” Kurek will be Friday, January 3, 2025, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9am at St. Joseph Church, celebrated by the Msgr. Michael A. Shershanovich, Pastor. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be Thursday, January 2, 2025, from 4pm to 6pm at the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street, Pittsfield MA 01201. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick's memory can be made to the St. Joseph Food Pantry in care of the Dwyer Funeral Home.

Mr. Richard "Dick" Kurek

February 6, 1944 - December 24, 2024