Conny Lou Kurtenbach of Ojai, California died after a short illness on February 6th at the age of 81.
Conny was born on October 6th, 1936 in Kloten, North Dakota to Adolph and Ine Ree. At the onset of WWII, her family moved to Los Angeles to support the war effort. She graduated from Manual Arts High School in 1954. On a Father’s Day family picnic at Elizabeth Lake, she met her husband to be, Ed, a young Air Force Staff Sergeant out carousing with his buddies. A couple years later in 1956 they married and remained together until Conny’s death. They began their life together in Torrance, CA and as the family grew, they moved to a larger home in Buena Park, CA. In 1968, they moved to Ojai. Being a “city girl”, Conny was a little reticent at first, but soon fell in love with the Ojai Valley.
For all of her life, Conny had a passion for the arts. In her youth, Conny was accomplished pianist and often performed at recitals in the Los Angeles area. In her later years, she developed a talent in oil painting, with a special affinity for seascapes. She enjoyed art history and visited many of the major museums in the USA and Europe. She enjoyed travel, both at home and abroad. In her later years, she was an active and dedicated member of the “Circle of Friends” social group, planning and organizing outings for the group.
Above all, Conny was the quintessential housewife. She was a skilled seamstress, kept a clean house, was a fantastic cook, girl scout leader, and a great mom and wife. Her children remember her as a kind and supportive mother who was always there to help them through the rough patches in life.
Conny is survived by her husband of 61 years, Edward Kurtenbach of Ojai; son James Kurtenbach of Escondido, CA; daughters Angela Scott of Sonora, CA and Laura Kurtenbach of Ojai; 2 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and brother Jerome Ree of Chandler, AZ.
Family and friends are invited to a Most Holy Rosary to be recited Friday evening February 23, 2018 at 7pm in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Main Street Ventura. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Ojai on Saturday, February 24th at 11:00 AM, with a reception to follow at the St. Thomas Parish Hall. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Conny’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Lung Association. Condolences can be sent to 515 E. Villanova Rd. The family would like to thank the staff at Ventura Community Hospital for their efforts and considerate care.