Anthone Kort Obituary

Kort
Anthone "Andy" Kort
December 11, 1930
September 6, 2022

Life of Andy
…a flurry of activity in the Kort house to find five cents so young Andy could buy a can of soda for the school outing to the Chicago White Sox baseball game. Hard times…one among many of the stories told over the years by Kort family members of the effects of the Great Depression.
Anthone Paul Kort was born into the depression in 1930 in Oak Lawn, Illinois, to Clarence and Clara Kort. Clarence… an immigrant from the Netherlands, was a man with an inquiring mind, always a seeker with a book at hand. Clara was a woman of compassion and tenderness. Their Calvinist faith was their foundation, which caused them wariness of "worldliness" but without rigidity or judgmentalism. Theirs was a farming family of warmth, hard work, integrity, and congeniality…all traits that followed Andy through his 91 years.
"Yes, I taught mathematics for forty-seven wonderful years," Andy often told his grandchildren, "but I almost didn't make it past eighth grade." In the early grades, he attended a rural one room school and actually did have to walk over a mile to school. It was customary in the small farming community that formal education stopped at the end of eighth grade at which time the boys worked full time on the family farm. Andy would have none of it. He often recalled that he stomped his feet and declared he would continue schooling even he had to wait until he was an adult. Fortunately, a wise teacher who recognized a gifted student convinced Andy's parents that he needed to continue his education without interruption. Andy went on to receive his high school diploma from Momence High School, BS from Calvin College, MA from the University of Michigan, Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Although he was not drafted, he chose to enlist in the Army after his time at the U of M "because it was the right thing to do."
Andy taught mathematics in both high school and college, beginning at Illiana Christian High School in Lansing, Illinois, and then moving on to the Niles Township School System, north of Chicago, where he spent the majority of his teaching years. Although he taught Advanced Placement Calculus, he never neglected the lower-level classes. The Niles community put a premium on education, advocating for excellence in teaching and corresponding just pay for teachers. In addition, the teachers' union demanded fairness but also would not tolerate inferior education among its members. After retiring from high school teaching, Andy taught college part-time in Illinois and Colorado. As recently as this past June, a former high school student contacted Andy wanting him to know "the impact Dr. Kort had on my life."
It was a warm September morning, the first faculty meeting of the 1959-60 school year. "Unusual that Andy Kort is late" observed the principal, "but we will get started by introducing the new teachers. Miss Judy Prins, a recent graduate from Calvin College, comes to us from Denver, Colorado." In rushed an embarrassed Andy, taking the only remaining seat next to the just mentioned Miss Prins. Fate…some would say; God's plan…others might note. Andy and Judy remained side-by-side for the next 62 years, but that's getting ahead of the story. On October 1, 1959, Andy and Judy had their first date: downtown Chicago at George Diamond's Restaurant and the play Sunrise at Campobello. A few days later, they again were together at The Sunday Evening Club at Orchestra Hall. And so it went until June 23, 1960, when they were married at Kanley Memorial Chapel in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Music…Travel…Family: Dutch immigrants, accustomed to singing the psalms in their church services, sought to bring house organs or pianos into their homes so that at least one of their children, usually a daughter, could learn to play music to accompany family singing. The Kort family had both house organ and piano. Having no daughters, the family was pleased that young Andy showed both interest in and talent for music. As a teenager, he often was asked to be a substitute church organist, and later he continued to play the organ for Sunday services and for family weddings. As a young man in Chicago, he was a member of the Swedish Choral Society…a select group that sang Messiah yearly at Orchestra Hall. Until his later years, he sang in church choirs.
Andy's first memorable travel was the summer of 1958 when he and Cousin Wesley, both bachelors, drove the 1,500 miles from Dawson Creek to Anchorage on the unpaved Alaskan Highway. That summer Andy worked at a freight office, where his pay in Alaska significantly surpassed what he had been earning as a teacher. Later, when travel included family, for many years the trips were limited to driving from Chicago to Michigan to see parents. Serious travel started years later when Andy drew the winning number at a meeting of the Chicago Dutch Knickerbocker Society for a trip for two to Amsterdam. From then on, Andy and Judy traveled abroad for many years. As a farm boy, Andy did not have time to join in organized sports. It was not until he was 65 years old and had moved to Colorado that he discovered his sport: skiing. For the next 18 years, he took off at 6:00 AM, was on the slopes by 9:00, skied until noon, and was home by 3:00.
It may be an overused cliché, but Andy was from the day oldest son, Bret Alan, was born, the quintessential "family man." Following Bret, eighteen months later, Chad Alden was born, followed by Amy Celeste and Joel Anthone. The family lost Andrea Rose, who as a preemie could not sustain life. Every night Andy went to each child individually with a song and a prayer. Being a man of books himself, Andy promoted family weekly trips to the library. With his guidance, all four children chose a musical instrument, and they still play into their adult years. Family life included attending Sunday services…often twice, which was then the custom. Being the punctual soul that he was, Andy was the first one ready on Sunday mornings, prepared to make the twenty-seven-mile drive to church. His signal to get the rest of the family in the car FAST was his playing the piano. No more rough housing; kids flew down the stairs.
God is still speaking. Andy's foundational roots were in the tenants of Calvinism, which often meant being "correct" with doctrine. Relatives from "the old country" could devote hours among themselves determining just the "right" interpretations and whether their preachers were hitting or missing the mark. Looking back on those early days, Andy's attitude remained that of acceptance. "That's the way it was; these were decent folks who took their version of religion seriously." As an adult, however, Andy was hearing other voices in his faith journey. That is why he and his family travelled those twenty-seven miles to a church that was known within the denomination as a "liberal" church, including support to ministries in inner-city Chicago. Andy was elected several terms as an Elder and headed the Adult Education Ministry. As previously noted, he was a substitute organist and through the choir shared his smooth baritone voice. For many years, he was treasurer of STRAT (Strategic Christian Ministries), which worked with inner-city pastors to provide basic needs funds for hurting individuals. God was still speaking. Where could he in freedom voice his still evolving faith without fear of judgment or hurt to others with different perspectives? He had more questions than answers. Peace, justice, mercy became central; doctrine was not in his forethought. With much consideration, he left the denomination of his ancestors and joined an open and affirming church, where he remained a seeker, still listening to God's voice.
Andy died of leukemia after two and a half years of treatment.
Predeceased: Parents, Clarence and Clara (Pastoor) Kort; Brother, Henry Kort; Son, Joel Anthone. Andy's legacy continues with devoted Children, Bret and Marlene (Reenders); Chad and Kathy (Lumkes); Amy and Greg (DeWeerd). Brother-in-law, Bradley Prins. Loved ones, Eugenia Kort and Dawne Fountain. Andy was much loved by eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Until the afternoon he died, Andy maintained frequent contact with nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
A service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 East Saint Vrain Street, Colorado Springs, CO, October 1, 2022, 10 AM. Reception to follow. Live streaming available.
Memorial remembrance: Andy was given the gift of life through blood donations. Monetary contributions may be made to Memorial Hospital Foundation attn: Blood Bank P.O. Box 9530 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80932 or online at ucmemorialcares.org and designate blood bank.