The Reverend David William Jurgens of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away at his home from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, on Sunday, March 24, 2019, surrounded by family. In agreement with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church of Marion, Iowa, where the family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the service on Saturday at the church. The Reverend Dr. Howard B. Chapman will officiate.
David was born May 15, 1930, to Toby and Stena Jurgens of Chapin, Iowa. He attended a one room country grade school and graduated from Chapin High in 1948. David went to Central College in Pella, Iowa, graduating in 1952. He married Dixie Mae Morton of Coulter, Iowa, on June 17, 1952. In the fall of 1952, David and Dixie drove to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where David was enrolled in the Reformed Church Seminary. In 1955, he graduated with a Masters Degree. New Jersey is also where his daughters were born.
David answered God’s call to serve the West Ghent and Stuyvesant Falls Churches in upper New York state for six years. Feeling the need to return to Iowa and be closer to their parents, they moved to New Sharon, where they served the First Presbyterian Church for six years. Wanting to further his education at the University of Iowa, David moved his family to Iowa City, and was an assistant pastor in the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and then First Presbyterian Church from 1967-1975 respectively. David wanted to experience other church work and was elected as the Stated Clerk of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, where he served a three year term.
His family thought he should have been named Jack, as he was a Jack of all trades, and unlike the saying, he was master of all. David was a carpenter, electrician, plumber, mechanic and computer technician. He was always willing to help anyone when needed. David became an assistant at the Jim Larew Law Firm in Iowa City, setting up Jim’s office with network equipment and also did research.
In 1983, he wrote and published The Least, a contemporary interpretation of the judgment in Matthew. Several years later, he wrote and published A Dog Named Louie, who was his very smart, favorite farm dog, illustrating it with photos from the 1940’s. David read religious books for a publishing company and wrote reviews for the same. He had unique knowledge of the historic Jesus and a historically contextual understanding of scripture. He was a learner of the word his entire life and wrote a very detailed paper on the Lord’s Prayer and its’ origin and uniqueness for many different denominations. While living with one of his daughters, David became quite fond of her cats, “Buddy” and “Raz”. They were wonderful therapy for him. David was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and a wonderful, devoted husband of nearly 67 years. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
David is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Dixie (Morton) Jurgens; two daughters, Emile Jurgens (Simeon Dzamov) of Dayton, Nevada and Ruth Noth of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Rebecca Dzamov (Alex Lomvardias) of San Luis Obispo, California, Christopher (Jordan) Noth of Marion, and Michael Noth of Colorado Springs, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Katya and Kosta, and Baby Noth due in July; and a host of extended family members including many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; five siblings; and one son-in-law, Tom Noth.
In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that any memorial gifts be sent to the family, expressing your preference of First Presbyterian Church (where they were members for 24 years); Mercy Hospice; or Witty Kitties, Inc., (who cares for sick and hard to adopt kitties). The family will collect the memorial gifts and send them to each organization with a cover letter.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to their Mercy Hospice team for the wonderful care given to David and the family.