My father, William Kurgan, was the second of five children of Michael and Rosalie Kotlarz Kurgan. He was born in Syracuse. His mother died when he was 5 years old while giving birth to his sister Rosalie. His father remarried and the family moved to a farm in LaFayette. Dad worked on the farm for many years while growing up and also as an adult. He cleared land and planted his own apple orchard while he was still a teenager. He also worked at John Deere and Syracuse Chilled Plow while continuing to help support the family at home on the farm.
At age 28, Dad married Jane Mnick of Syracuse, and Mom and Dad lived in Syracuse for the first 7 years of their marriage. In 1946 they bought a house in LaFayette which would become our family homestead. Dad did all the remodeling work himself, and even built a new garage when he was in his 70s.
Dad worked as an iron moulder at Crouse Hinds Corporation for 37 years, and still grew apples commercially in his orchard. He was always generous with the fruits of his labor, sharing vegetables, raspberries, apples and plants with friends and family. Bill was well known for his beautiful vegetable and flower gardens.
He also enjoyed making real maple syrup, boiling the sap over a wood fire. He started maple syrup-making when he was a boy and continued well into his later years. One of his favorite fruits to grow (besides apples, of course) was strawberries. During strawberry season, Dad would eat strawberries plain, with sugar, with cream, and even occasionally have strawberry shortcake for breakfast.
Dad was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in LaFayette. I remember when it became popular for people to dress more casually for Mass, Dad always wore his suit and tie. He had a deep respect for the Church.
Our father was always patient and understanding. I thought it amazing that he only saw the good in people, and never failed to have a kind word to say. He worked so hard all his life. Between his foundry job, the orchard, the garden, the house, and all of us, I don't know how he found enough hours in the day.
Dad passed away at the age of 89. He had developed Multiple Myeloma and declined treatment. He passed away six days after he was diagnosed. He was satisfied with his life and was ready to leave this life for the next.
Dad's sisters and brothers:
Mary
Sophie
Walter
Rosalie
Michael
Anne
John
Jennie
Eddie
Stanley
At age 28, Dad married Jane Mnick of Syracuse, and Mom and Dad lived in Syracuse for the first 7 years of their marriage. In 1946 they bought a house in LaFayette which would become our family homestead. Dad did all the remodeling work himself, and even built a new garage when he was in his 70s.
Dad worked as an iron moulder at Crouse Hinds Corporation for 37 years, and still grew apples commercially in his orchard. He was always generous with the fruits of his labor, sharing vegetables, raspberries, apples and plants with friends and family. Bill was well known for his beautiful vegetable and flower gardens.
He also enjoyed making real maple syrup, boiling the sap over a wood fire. He started maple syrup-making when he was a boy and continued well into his later years. One of his favorite fruits to grow (besides apples, of course) was strawberries. During strawberry season, Dad would eat strawberries plain, with sugar, with cream, and even occasionally have strawberry shortcake for breakfast.
Dad was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in LaFayette. I remember when it became popular for people to dress more casually for Mass, Dad always wore his suit and tie. He had a deep respect for the Church.
Our father was always patient and understanding. I thought it amazing that he only saw the good in people, and never failed to have a kind word to say. He worked so hard all his life. Between his foundry job, the orchard, the garden, the house, and all of us, I don't know how he found enough hours in the day.
Dad passed away at the age of 89. He had developed Multiple Myeloma and declined treatment. He passed away six days after he was diagnosed. He was satisfied with his life and was ready to leave this life for the next.
Dad's sisters and brothers:
Mary
Sophie
Walter
Rosalie
Michael
Anne
John
Jennie
Eddie
Stanley
My father, William Kurgan, was the second of five children of Michael and Rosalie Kotlarz Kurgan. He was born in Syracuse. His mother died when he was 5 years old while giving birth to his sister Rosalie. His father remarried and the family moved to a farm in LaFayette. Dad worked on the farm for many years while growing up and also as an adult. He cleared land and planted his own apple orchard while he was still a teenager. He also worked at John Deere and Syracuse Chilled Plow while continuing to help support the family at home on the farm.
At age 28, Dad married Jane Mnick of Syracuse, and Mom and Dad lived in Syracuse for the first 7 years of their marriage. In 1946 they bought a house in LaFayette which would become our family homestead. Dad did all the remodeling work himself, and even built a new garage when he was in his 70s.
Dad worked as an iron moulder at Crouse Hinds Corporation for 37 years, and still grew apples commercially in his orchard. He was always generous with the fruits of his labor, sharing vegetables, raspberries, apples and plants with friends and family. Bill was well known for his beautiful vegetable and flower gardens.
He also enjoyed making real maple syrup, boiling the sap over a wood fire. He started maple syrup-making when he was a boy and continued well into his later years. One of his favorite fruits to grow (besides apples, of course) was strawberries. During strawberry season, Dad would eat strawberries plain, with sugar, with cream, and even occasionally have strawberry shortcake for breakfast.
Dad was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in LaFayette. I remember when it became popular for people to dress more casually for Mass, Dad always wore his suit and tie. He had a deep respect for the Church.
Our father was always patient and understanding. I thought it amazing that he only saw the good in people, and never failed to have a kind word to say. He worked so hard all his life. Between his foundry job, the orchard, the garden, the house, and all of us, I don't know how he found enough hours in the day.
Dad passed away at the age of 89. He had developed Multiple Myeloma and declined treatment. He passed away six days after he was diagnosed. He was satisfied with his life and was ready to leave this life for the next.
Dad's sisters and brothers:
Mary
Sophie
Walter
Rosalie
Michael
Anne
John
Jennie
Eddie
Stanley
At age 28, Dad married Jane Mnick of Syracuse, and Mom and Dad lived in Syracuse for the first 7 years of their marriage. In 1946 they bought a house in LaFayette which would become our family homestead. Dad did all the remodeling work himself, and even built a new garage when he was in his 70s.
Dad worked as an iron moulder at Crouse Hinds Corporation for 37 years, and still grew apples commercially in his orchard. He was always generous with the fruits of his labor, sharing vegetables, raspberries, apples and plants with friends and family. Bill was well known for his beautiful vegetable and flower gardens.
He also enjoyed making real maple syrup, boiling the sap over a wood fire. He started maple syrup-making when he was a boy and continued well into his later years. One of his favorite fruits to grow (besides apples, of course) was strawberries. During strawberry season, Dad would eat strawberries plain, with sugar, with cream, and even occasionally have strawberry shortcake for breakfast.
Dad was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church in LaFayette. I remember when it became popular for people to dress more casually for Mass, Dad always wore his suit and tie. He had a deep respect for the Church.
Our father was always patient and understanding. I thought it amazing that he only saw the good in people, and never failed to have a kind word to say. He worked so hard all his life. Between his foundry job, the orchard, the garden, the house, and all of us, I don't know how he found enough hours in the day.
Dad passed away at the age of 89. He had developed Multiple Myeloma and declined treatment. He passed away six days after he was diagnosed. He was satisfied with his life and was ready to leave this life for the next.
Dad's sisters and brothers:
Mary
Sophie
Walter
Rosalie
Michael
Anne
John
Jennie
Eddie
Stanley
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