John "Cowboy" Wurtz, 74, Glendale Colony, Frankfort, SD, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2017.  His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Glendale Colony.  His final resting place will be in the Glendale Cemetery.  Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com)

John "Cowboy" Wurtz was born September 7, 1942 in Bon Homme Colony, Manitoba, Canada to John and Maria (Gross) Wurtz.  At the age of seven, he moved to Glendale Colony in South Dakota and he married Tillie Hofer of Spink Colony on February 20, 1966.  He was a "Cowboy" for 20 years and then a truck driver until he was diagnosed with cancer which he fought patiently for ten years.  He still loved life and was a kind gentle soul who was always willing to help and everything he did was with a full heart. He was a loving Husband, Dad, and Grandpa.

John is survived by and will be missed by his loving wife of 51 years, Tillie (Hofer) Wurtz; his daughter Matilda (Zacky) Waldner,  Glendale Colony, and their children: (Ben) Vanessa, Lori, Zachery, Tammy, Lenayah, Jenna and Alisa; his son Larry (Melissa) Wurtz, Glendale Colony; his son David (Sherry) Wurtz, Jasper, MN, and their children: Kelsey, Ivan, Alex, Zach and Mariah; his son Alvin (Jeneva) Wurtz, Glendale Colony, and their children: Alan, Jenaya, Teanna and Carter; his daughter Rose Marie, Glendale Colony; his son Johnny Stanley (Michelle) Wurtz, Lacrosse, WI and three great-grandchildren:  Teanna, Jordynn and Delilah.  He is also survived by his brothers:  Fred (Maryann) Wurtz, Camrose Colony; Davy (Molly) Wurtz, Watertown; Peter (Mary) Wurtz, Florida; Andrew (Sherry) Wurtz, Redfield; his sisters:  (Valentine) Maria, Spring Prairie Colony; (Mike) Margaret, Greenwood; (John) Clara, Camrose Colony; his three sisters-in-law:  Mary, Rosa and Marie and many nieces and nephews.