Our dear dad, Erwin Kutzik passed into eternal life October 12, 2023 at the age of 89 after a year long battle with declining health. He was born in Radautz Romania on December 24, 1933 to Izadore and Stephanie Kutzik.

Erwin met Madalena Hammer in a refugee camp in Austria and they married devoted to each other for almost 70 years. They immigrated to the United States in 1958 with two small children and a couple of suitcases to start their new life in Chicago. Erwin worked as an auto repair man and in 1962 moved to Columbus to open his own shop. He later retired from American packaging having worked in the maintenance department.

He was a man of many talents, carpentry, working with stained glass, plus he could fix almost anything. He loved sports having played soccer as a young man and golfing almost daily after retirement. But mostly he loved being surrounded by family and he cherished his good friends.

We are eternally grateful to our mother for taking such amazing care of dad, allowing him to remain at home until the last two weeks of his life.

Erwin is survived by his beloved wife Magdalena "Leni", sister Elfreda Gruber; children Brigitte Firari, Monika (Michael) Buggy, Erwin (Maureen Kutzik, grandson Kevin (Lori) Kutzik; great granddaughter Riley Kutzik.

He was preceded in death by his parents; In-laws Franz and Katharina Hammer; brothers Norbert and Reinhart; sons-in-law Bill Firari and Douglas Firari.

The family would like to thank Dr. Rolf Poser for his compassionate care as well as the Larson House and Generations Hospice.

"I did it my way"

Memorials may be directed to Larson House or Generations Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M., with visitation beginning at 10:00 A.M., on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at JENSEN FUNERAL & CREMATION, Columbus. Inurnment will be in Hillside Cemetery, Columbus.

We encourage you to share your online condolences with Erwin's family at jensenfuneralandcremation.com