Obituary of Jay Kurek

Jay was born on October 16, 1969 in Consort, Alberta, the third child of Felix and Linda Kurek, and a pesterous sibling to Mary and Martin. Born and raised in Consort, he begrudgingly attended and graduated from Consort School. He loved to stir the pot, always ready with sass and his infectious laugh. Jay genuinely loved people and easily would talk to anyone. From childhood, he was deeply generous, always willing to give a helping hand wherever needed. Hockey (and sports in general) were a major part of Jay’s life, from playing minor hockey throughout grade school to playing for the Consort Comets into adulthood. He also had a love and frustration (in sometimes equal measure) with the Edmonton Oilers. He attended broadcasting school in Edmonton where he received his broadcasting certificate, with the intention to become a sports broadcaster; however, his love of Consort kept him grounded in our local community. 

In 1989, Jay married Jodi, his high school sweetheart and love of his life. Together they had four children: Damien, Analisha, Tianna, and Kadin. Jay had numerous different jobs over the years, including working at the Consort Wheat Pool, UFA, and UAP Napa, before him and Jodi began their entrepreneurial adventures with Havacupa Coffee. Jay also farmed with his father in law, Jim Hutchings, and brother in law, Darren Hutchings, which proved to be his lifelong passion. Jay said many times, “This is what I was meant to do.” It was December of 2008 that Jay and Jodi purchased the original Kurek farm from Jay’s Auntie, Amelia Schooler. In 2011, Jay and Darren became official business partners, a partnership that made the two almost inseparable.  

Alongside farming, Jay’s passion was serving his community. He served as the president of the Centennial Homecoming board, held numerous different positions in local Minor Hockey Associations, and volunteered his time generously in official and unofficial ways. He cared deeply for his kids: he coached Damien in basketball throughout high school and was a mainstay at political events, attended many of Analisha’s dance festivals and sporting events, helped with Tianna’s 4H and watched many archery competitions, and he coached Kadin throughout his entire minor hockey career, much to Kadin’s chagrin. Jay served on the Veteran Full Gospel Church board, the Veteran Camp board, and loved helping to run the concession during the week of Veteran Camp. He served on the Consort School Parent Council, the Medical Board, and the Consort Volunteer Fire Department. Everywhere Jay went, he made lifelong friends. He literally would have given the shirt off his back to help others.

Jay carried his father’s love of trains, and many hours were spent watching trains, or gathering in the backyard with the G-Scale model trains or downstairs with the N-Scale model trains with the family. He would often be found sitting around a kitchen table drinking coffee (or Zevia), and was an avid jogger. He loved his nieces and nephews like his own children, treated his children-in-law as his own, and one of his favourite milestones in life was becoming a Papa. He loved to see his six grandsons, stuffing them full of sweets before sending them back home again. 

Jay’s faith was deeply important to him and his family, and he demonstrated well what it meant to live your faith through love and service to others. The most important commandment in all the Bible is to love God and love your neighbour. Jay believed this was what the church should be, and lived that to the fullest.

Jay, you will be missed every day, and we will do our best to honour your legacy.

Left to cherish Jay’s memory is his wife, Jodi; children, Damien (Danielle) and their children, Matthew, Emerson and Winston; Analisha (Troy) Kirkpatrick and their children, Weston, Weldon and Fjord; Tianna (Nate) Stacheruk; Kadin (Taniell); mother, Linda Kurek; mother in law, Nora Hutchings; brother, Martin (Cheryl) Kurek; sister, Mary (Calvin) Ellerby; brothers and sisters in law, Darren Hutchings, Brad Hutchings (Aliya Khan) and Nicole Hutchings (Lee Boutin).

Jay was predeceased by his father, Felix; and father in law, Jim.

From the night of Jay’s passing, to all the love and support received since, and all of you joining us today, the Kurek family wishes to share their sincere gratitude and thanks.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a funeral for Jay on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Consort Sportex (Curling Rink) with Pastor Darrel Durksen officiating. A private family interment will follow at the Lake Road Cemetery. As per what Jay would have wanted, everyone is encouraged to dress casually and wear jeans and a t shirt.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Consort Food Bank or the Consort Fire Department are greatly appreciated. Both can be directed to the Village of Consort, Box 490, Consort, AB. T0C 1B0. 

For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available through Jay's page on the Gregory's Funeral Home Inc. website - please note, this is the only space GFH will ever live stream from, we do not ever stream via Facebook.

Gregory’s Funeral Home Inc.

www.gregorysfuneralhomes.com