Geraldine Leah "Gerri" Kursinsky, 87

June 03, 1934 – October 24, 2021

Gerri Kursinsky passed away peacefully at the Copper Ridge Nursing home in Butte, Montana on Sunday, October 24, 2021. Gerri and her twin brother were born in Butte to Vance Segulia and Agnes (Kavran) Segulia.

Gerri attended Holy Savior elementary school and graduated from Girl's Central High School in Butte. Gerri's passion for music began in the fourth grade when she started piano lessons. She studied under Netta Fullmer until college. After high school, Gerri worked at the Montana Power Company for five years. In the fall of 1957, Gerri began college at the Sherwood Music School in Chicago, Illinois, where she received her bachelor's degree in Music Education. She later earned her master's degree in Music Education from the University of Portland, Portland, Oregon.

She started her teaching career in Morrison, Illinois, where she taught in both elementary and junior high schools. Then she spent three years as a music consultant in the Highline School District of Seattle, Washington. In 1965, Gerri was selected for an assignment to teach music in Bremerhaven, Germany for the United States Department of Defense; she taught in Bremerhaven and Berlin. She not only taught, but sung in the choirs in both Bremerhaven and Berlin with some of the many friends she met there. Also, while in Berlin, Gerri met, fell in love and married Bill Kursinsky who was stationed there in the Army. They were married for almost 50 years before his passing in January 2019.

After finishing their time in Germany, they returned to Michigan. Gerri taught music in the Waterford School district for six years in Michigan before moving to Phoenix, Arizona. There she taught music at the Paradise Valley School district in Phoenix. She loved teaching and especially loved putting on musicals with her students. She also gave private piano lessons to hundreds of students in her home. In all Gerri, taught music for 32 years before retiring. Several years after retirement, she returned to Butte to teach choir at Butte Central Elementary and Butte Central High School. Ironically, her last year of teaching at Central, she had her students perform a Christmas program for the residents of the Copper Ridge.

Gerri and Bill loved traveling and visited over 30 countries, including several trips back to visit Germany where they fell in love. She enjoyed folk dancing, quilting, guitar classes and scrapbooking classes. She modeled with her beloved pets in Humane Society charity fashion shows where she also volunteered. A special joy was playing dueling pianos with her late friend, Jean Robinson. Gerri also sang and assisted with the direction of the choir at St. Francis Xavier in Phoenix.

Her parents and twin brother preceded her in death. Surviving Gerri are Ed (Sue) Kavran and family of Dillon, Montana, Margie Kavran of Butte, Montana and Tony (Debbie) Kavran and family of Idaho Falls, Idaho, along with cousins, nieces and nephews. She treasured the many friends she made over the years and maintained contact with them all throughout her lifetime. Betty Martin and Gerri were friends for 83 years, eventually living in the same retirement community together in Sun Lakes, Arizona. Special thanks go to her wonderful friend, Madlyn Bracco-Taylor of Butte, Montana.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 o'clock on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at St. Ann's Church. Visitation will begin at 9:30. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery immediately following the Mass.