The tree planted in Jill Kurtz memory outside of JJ&K Law.
Jill Kurtz
Battle Ground community members gathered Saturday, May 25 in front of the law office of Jackson, Jackson & Kurtz on Main Street to plant a tree in remembrance of Jill Kurtz, a longtime pillar of the city.
After Kurtz passed away last year at age 63, Battle Ground Rotarians Terry Reddish and Scott Sawyer began brainstorming a project in honor of Jill. The end result was the planting of a tree outside the Kurtz family law firm on Main Street as well as taking responsibility for the clean up of Main Street from Grace to Parkway through the Adopt-A-Street program.
“We gather here today in memory of Jill; to recognize her positive influence and to honor her willingness to get involved and lend a hand in so many different ways,” Battle Ground Rotary Club President Brad Hunt said at the event. “Whether it was through local volunteer organizations, such as Rotary or Kiwanis, or in her compassion with taking time to listen and laugh with our local seniors while paying a visit to Mallard Landing.”
Following the tree planting, 18 volunteers got right to work. They spent a few hours picking up trash, pulling weeds and cleaning up sidewalks.
“We are working on planning more volunteer days such as this (cleaning up main street), as well as coming up with other ideas and ways to contribute towards helping Main Street be a welcoming area of our community,” Heather Renner, local real estate broker and Rotarian said.
Kurtz was president of the Battle Ground Rotary Club from 2015-16, served as the community service chair for two years and the club’s foundation chair.
“She was somebody that was definitely special to our club,” Renner said. “It would be an understatement to say that she will be missed.”
