Kent J. Gurtner

Kent James Gurtner, 57, longtime resident of Iron River, WI, died peacefully, Sunday, September 11, 2022, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN. Kent was born in Rochester, MN on March 4, 1965, the son of Samuel and Arlone (Amdahl) Gurtner where he was raised until 1976 when the family to the Top o’ the Morn Resort in Iron River, WI.

Kent was a graduate of Northwestern High School in Maple, WI, class of 1983. After graduation, Kent enlisted and served his country honorably in the United States Navy and was a submariner on the USS Blue Black on San Diego, CA. After his enlistment, Kent relocated to Minneapolis, MN where he enrolled in the electrical engineering program at Dunwoody College of Technology.

In 1993, Kent was involved in a tragic motorcycle accident, that rendered him a spastic quadriplegic. Following the accident, Kent went to a nursing home in Middleton, WI where he was treated for a brain injury until his family built a home for him back in Iron River. He later moved into a group home at McKenzie Manor where he lived for at least seven years.

Kent was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan and was a loving son and brother who will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his beloved mother, Arlone Gurtner, Iron River, WI; brothers, Jeff Gurtner, Brent (Ann) Gurtner, Craig (Dorothy) Gurtner; sister, Denise (Heinz) Winterscheidt, and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, Sam, sister-in-law Gayanne, and his grandparents.

Kent’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all his caregivers in Iron River, and at McKenzie Manor and The Challenge Center in Superior for their kind compassionate care over the years.

A Celebration of Kent’s Life will be held from 1:00-4:00 PM on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the Iron River VFW, 8265 US Hwy 2, with a Service of Remembrance to begin at 1:30 PM offered by Dennis Harver.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made in Kent’s name to the Iron River VFW Handicap Accessibility Fund, c/o VFW Post 10197.

Arrangements by Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 East 5 ^th Street Superior. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com