Pearl Naomi Kurth, age 87, of Carroll passed away on Tuesday, October 6, 2015, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus, Iowa. Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immorality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant Pearl.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at the Hausbarn Trinity Lutheran Church in Manning with Pastor Brian Licht of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll officiating. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 5:00 P.M. on Monday, October 19, 2015, where there will be a prayer service held at 6:30 P.M. The casket will be moved to Hausbarn Trinity Lutheran Church in Manning at 9:00 A.M. on Tuesday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Burial will be in the Manning City Cemetery. Casket bearers will be grandsons: Christopher Kurth, Jonathan Kurth, Timothy Anderson, Stuart Anderson, Randy Kurth, Rodney Kurth, and Douglas Erickson. Honorary casket bearers will be granddaughters: Pamela Anderson, Anna Anderson, Tracie Kurth, Jessica Kurth, Debra Erickson, Jennifer Erickson, and Joy Erickson. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Pearl's name for many of her favorite charities and may be left at the funeral home or the church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Born on May 11, 1928, on her family's farm near Audubon, she was the daughter of William Frederick and Ella Ida (Ress) Asmus. Pearl was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at Trinity Lutheran Church near Audubon. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Audubon High School in 1946. She attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls and Concordia Teacher's College in Seward, Nebraska, and earned her teacher's certificate. She worked as an elementary teacher at St. Stephens Lutheran School in Atkins, Iowa. She was married to Emil Kurth on August 9, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church near Audubon. The couple farmed near Gray, Iowa, where she helped on the farm, raised her family, and taught school in Kimballton and later in Irwin. Pearl went back to Concordia in Seward and earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1972. Pearl and Emil were members of Trinity Lutheran Church near Audubon where she was church organist, taught Sunday School, was active in Ladies Aide, and Vacation Bible School. Pearl and Emil were instrumental in raising funds and establishing New Hope Village in Carroll. They commuted for several years and moved to Carroll in 1987. Pearl worked for New Hope Village for 23 years where she had several jobs including teaching and being a house parents along with Emil. She then volunteered at New Hope Village Store for many years. After moving to Carroll they became members of St. Paul Lutheran Church where she was also very active. Pearl also served as a volunteer with the Foster Grandparents Program, Head Start, and the local schools. Pearl moved to Orchard View in 2005 following Emil's death and to Sunny Brook Assisted Living in 2012. She has made her home at the Heartland Care Center in Marcus since September 14, 2015.

Pearl is survived by two daughters: Sarah Anderson and her husband Wayne of Minden, Nebraska, and Jolene Erickson and her husband, Pastor Don Erickson of Germantown, Iowa; two sons Allen Kurth and his wife Susan of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Conrad Kurth and his wife Juanita of Audubon; fourteen grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; a brother-in-law Lyle Kurth and his wife Phyllis of St. Charles, Missouri; a sister-in-law Myra Asmus of Carroll; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Emil in 2004, a daughter Mary Ellen Kurth in 1959, a son Timothy Kurth in 1980, a daughter Deborah Kurth in 1999, a daughter-in-law Sharon Kurth, a granddaughter Emily Kurth, a sister Arlene Bruhn and her husband George, and a brother Amos Asmus.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for our sister Pearl.