MANISTEE — Terrance Wayne Kuriger, age 77, of Manistee died August 25, 2018.
He was born November 27, 1940 in Cadillac the son of the late H. Doreen (Simons) and Leslie Anderson. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 5, 1958 and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, in heavy weapons infantry. In 1959 he was shipped overseas to Europe (Baumholder, Germany) where he went to school and earned his GED through the State Department of Education. He trained with the 10th Special Forces (Airborne) and was later sent back to Fort Hood, Texas, where he received Ranger and Flame Thrower training. He was honorably discharged on September 1, 1961. Terry was born with military blood in him as his great-great-grandmother was a niece of Ulysses S. Grant.
In 1964 Terry became employed with the Ironworkers Union Local 340 in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he worked until his retirement in 2001.
He constructed a 7’ 6” long, 28 ¼’ tall replica of the Mighty Mackinaw Bridge out of toothpicks, craft sticks, wooden dowels and 70 mini lights. The bridge also has around 23 mini cars on it and three boats under it. It took him approximately one year and nine months to recreate it. The bridge can be seen at the Mackinaw Bridge Museum located in Mama Mia’s Pizzeria Restaurant in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
He enjoyed going mushroom, blueberry and blackberry picking. He loved watching the birds on his birdfeeder and watching his favorite sport, NASCAR, on TV.
Terry is survived by two daughters, Terri Janicki and Kimberly Kuriger; three grandchildren, Bobbie (Randy) Kuriger-Slone, Kyle (Jessica) Janicki, & McKenna Janicki; seven great-grandchildren including a set of triplets (who lovingly referred to him as ‘Grandpa Dude’); sister, Tanis Lehmann; brothers and sisters-in-law, Marshall (Sarah) Kuriger of Manistee and Wallace (Maxalee) Anderson of Leroy. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee, with Military Honors conducted by the Manistee County United Veteran’s Council Ritual Team following. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of service.
Memorials in Terrance’s name may be directed to Hospice of Michigan.
Please visit his personal book of memories page at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Manistee.