Dr. Hermann Martin Kurthen, age 71, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at his home. The son of Martin and Helene Kurthen, he was born on June 10, 1952, in Stuttgart, Germany.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving are his wife, Kay M. Losey; daughter, Angelika Losey Kurthen; sisters, Beate Bosse and Ursula Kurthen, both of Stuttgart, Germany; nieces, Saskia Bosse and Cordula Kurthen; and nephew, Torsten Bosse.
A professor of sociology, Hermann Kurthen taught nearly 20 years at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Prior to that he taught at UNC-Chapel Hill, Stony Brook University, and the Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany. He loved skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, running (including marathons), the symphony, and travel.
Having come to the U.S. as an exchange professor, Hermann worked to establish and take part in faculty and student academic exchanges throughout his career.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Hermann Kurthen and Kay Losey Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship at Grand Valley State University, https://www.gvsu.edu/giving/give-now-hermann-kurthen-775.htm
Private memorials will be held in both Grand Rapids and Stuttgart.
