LifeTimeline

Matthew Kurbursky

    • FEB 18

      Born

    1958
    • Enlisted in the Marine Corps

    1976
    • Met me, Juanita (Vernon) Eledge

    • DEC 22

      Our Wedding

    1979
    • JUL 20

      Birth of our daughter, Darlene Marie

    1980
    • Adopted KC

    • Renewed our vows on our 25th Anniversary

    2004
    • Adopted Damian Ray aka Kareem Damien Jones and his sister Jazmine Sahala aka Donjanae Shahalea

    2006
    • NOV

      Got the diagnosis, stage 4 lung cancer

    2013
    • APR 22

      Died

    2014
  • Born

    Indianapolis, Indiana
    Matthew was the tenth child born into the family. His mother's name was Ruth (Gibson), and his father's, Elmer Oscar Sr. Matt weighed over 9 pounds.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Enlisted in the Marine Corps

    Indianapolis, Indiana
    Being under 18, Matt had to get one of his parents to sign a waiver stating it was ok for him to enlist.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Met me, Juanita (Vernon) Eledge

    San Diego, California
    I sat down at his table then the lifetime began.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Our Wedding

    Indianapolis, Indiana
    The wedding was very informal. The church was decorated for Christmas. It was beautiful. The ceremony was short and not very many showed up. His parents and two uncles, besides his older brother Dan and his sister Karen, who stood with us.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Birth of our daughter, Darlene Marie

    Indianapolis, Indiana
    Darlene weighed 8 lbs., 11 oz. She was a full month overdue.
    Matthew was so proud and an Awesome dad, even though that for the first 15- 18 months of her life, she wouldn't let him hold her.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Adopted KC

    Joplin, Missouri
    KC aka Cody Ray Cravens was a tiny, little red head with quite a few issues. He caused a lot of trouble but he also was very special. People always said that he looked more like our natural born child than Darlene did. Matthew saw him at a child fair, where prospective parents could go and meet many children who write-up for adoption and waiting for FOREVER homes. Matt wanted to take him home that day.
    We were KC's tenth placement.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Renewed our vows on our 25th Anniversary

    Licking, Missouri
    The minister of our church, Larry Tubbs performed the ceremony. Darlene and her first husband, Cole Schafer and KC stood up with us.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Adopted Damian Ray aka Kareem Damien Jones and his sister Jazmine Sahala aka Donjanae Shahalea

    Kansas City, Missouri
    Damian was 10 and Jazmine 9. We went up to meet them and brought them home.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Got the diagnosis, stage 4 lung cancer

    This day was awful for me. I can't begin to know what it was for him. I know he was scared. He was hopeful though at this point. His father had lung cancer and lived 13 years after his diagnosis. He decided to take the chemo treatments.
    By Juanita Kurbursky
  • Died

    Licking, Missouri
    Matt passed away this morning in his sleep. He was at home like he wanted to be. He had come home with hospice, late on the 21st. We had moved everything around in the living room to put his bed in there. He wanted me near him, so I slept on the couch. Mary was living with us at the time and she came out to check on him, in the morning, and he was already going into rigor. We called 911 and everyone came.
    I made them leave his head uncovered as they took him out on the gurney.
    By Juanita Kurbursky