Thomas Kurtz

Thomas Kurtz

July 14, 1941 - April 19, 2025

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Obituary

MADISON - Thomas Gordan Kurtz, age 83, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2025. He was born on July 14, 1941, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Paul and Ruth (Kreikenbaum) Kurtz.


Tom grew up in La Plata, Mo., and graduated from La Plata High School in 1959. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1963 and earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Stanford University in 1967.


Tom met Carolyn S. Neville in July of 1963 and married her six weeks later, right before they drove cross country for him to start graduate school. After graduating they moved to Madison and immediately began the process to adopt their children, Marci and Kevin. Tom worked for the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1967 until his retirement in 2008, whereupon he continued working as an “emeritus” professor.


As a world-renowned mathematician and statistician, Tom published over 150 articles, one textbook (Markov Processes: Characterization and Convergence), and his work has been cited over 12,000 times in other articles and publications. He was inducted into the Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2005 for his authoritative work on Markov processes and other contributions to applied mathematics, probabilities and statistics.


Tom took several sabbaticals around the world. He loved traveling, whether as a guest lecturer or for leisure. He frequently took his entire family on trips across the United States and around the globe. His life-long love of travel instilled a travel bug in his daughter and grandchildren.


A staunch supporter of the arts, Tom was a season subscriber to the Madison Symphony Orchestra and American Players Theater. He also sang in his church choir and was a prolific reader. He firmly believed in giving back to his community and was active in his church and politics, and he contributed to many charities related to education and the arts. He often said he wished he could do more and wanted to make the world a better place for his grandchildren. Tom was profoundly generous, humble and gracious to all who knew him.


Thomas is survived by his daughter, Marci Kurtz; son-in-law, Chris Paulsen; grandchildren, Rhiannon and Cameron Kurtz, Zack, Nick, Griffin and Beckett Paulsen; and his brother’s family, Betsy, Lara, David, Joel, Jackson and Stefan Kurtz. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn; son, Kevin; and brother, Jack.


A memorial service will be held at MIDDLETON COMMUNITY CHURCH, 645 Schewe Road, Middleton, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025, with the Rev. Zayna Thomley presiding. A luncheon will follow the service at the church at noon on Saturday.
 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memoriam may be made to American Players Theater or the Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Service. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761

Events

17
Memorial Service
Sat May 17, 2025 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Middleton Community Church • 645 Schewe Rd, Middleton, WI 53562
Get Directions
17
Luncheon After Service
Sat May 17, 2025 @ 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM CDT
Middleton Community Church • 645 Schewe Rd, Middleton, WI 53562
Get Directions

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Memories

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AK
A Memorial Tree was planted for Thomas Gordon Kurtz
Other •
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Gunderson Funeral Home - Middleton
JA
Jayadev Athreya
Other •
Rest in Peace, Professor Kurtz. Tom was a good friend of my father's, Krishna Athreya, and I remember the wonderful speech he gave at his birthday conference. They were friends going back to their graduate school days at Stanford, and my dad always valued Tom's friendship so much. Tom was a wonderful mathematician, a very kind and generous man, and will be missed greatly.
CP
Carol Phelps
Other •
Tom reminded me of my own father, in all the best ways. Tom was an exceptional person - kind, generous, smart, caring, well-traveled and good-natured, with an unquenchable smile and wonderful sense of humor. His comments in all our various church groups, where we discussed the pressing issues of our day - Coffee & Conversation, Tuesday Night Fellowship, and Adult Sunday School - were always insightful and spot-on. Tom was an inspiration and a friend. We will all miss him. One favorite memory was the day he accepted my suggestion that we visit over dinner at Hubbard Avenue Diner when the rest of my family was out of town and I was feeling lonely. And I remember when I was making an appeal for assistance for children in the Philippines, and he immediately contributed a very generous check to help people he'd never meet. The last time I saw him, just a few days before he passed, he shrugged off my inquiry about his health with his normal good-humor, and spent most of our conversation telling me how much he appreciated what I did for the environment. It seemed like he was always thinking about everyone else. May our lives be as well-lived as his. With gratitude, Carol Phelps
CJ
Chris Janjigian
Other •
I met Tom a few years after he “retired.” He was still a constant presence in the department, regularly coming to the office, attending every seminar, and joining us for dinners. I feel truly fortunate to have gotten to know him through these interactions and a research collaboration that grew out of them. Professionally, Tom was undoubtedly one of the greats of his generation. What always impressed me most about Tom, however, was his character: he was an equally exceptional human being and profoundly decent in countless ways, both big and small. Tom in the past described others with a similar generosity of spirit as “one of the good guys.” Without any doubt, Tom was that. Those of us who knew him are richer for it. My heartfelt condolences to his family on his loss.
JA
Jon Audhya
Other •
Tom had an extraordinary ability to make those around them feel valued and important, often putting others before himself with a smile that could light up any room. His generosity was not just in the gifts he gave, but in the time, attention, and care he offered freely. He taught us that true happiness comes not from what we have, but from what we give to others. Whether through a helping hand, a kind word, or simply sharing a laugh, Tom created moments of joy that will live on in our hearts always.
JM
Julie Mitchell
Other •
Tom was the chair of the hiring committee when I was recruited to UW. He helped me navigate setting up a complex joint appointment, including one serious concern. As a colleague, Tom embodied the best in us. Always smiling and collegial, and supportive to junior colleagues.

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