We have, unfortunately, lost another classmate. John went to Bancroft Elementary, Bryant Junior and Central High schools. He was confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church on 39th and Chicago along with many others of us from our class. His wife Mary sent the following note; Gail, it is with deep regret and sadness that I have to tell you that my beloved husband, John Hurtig, passed away on January 10 from a heart attack. We will miss him greatly. He so looked forward to your e-mails and what was going on with his former classmates.

John L. Hurtig, 72, of Rancho Mirage, Calif., passed away on January 10, 2013.

He was born on April 4, 1940 to Leonard Olav Hurtig and Margaret Wittig Hurtig in Minneapolis, Minn. He honorably served in the U.S. Navy and was placed in a very select position within the Instrumentmen Group to develop new innovative processes and procedures in support of intelligence, ship, and submarine operations. He went on to work for TRW and retired after 25 years as a Senior Program Manager. He was asked twice to come out of retirement and eventually ended his career as a Senior Consultant and Subject Matter Expert (SME) with Siemens. He was an innovator in designing processes and procedures in the field of Life Cycle Management. He received a Presidential and Governor Appointment to the Selective Service System Board.

He was a member of the American Swedish Institute, American Philatelic Society, U.S. Navy Memorial, Navy OM/IM Association, and the Palm Springs PFLAG. He and his wife, Mary, were always on the go with exciting foreign sailing and land trips. He was known for his detailed graphic travel plans.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Danelle Rene Hurtig of Rancho Mirage; sons, Jeffery John (Michelle) Hurtig of Riverside, Calif. and Jay John (Eden) Hurtig of Huntington Beach, Calif.; granddaughters, Averie Suzanne Hurtig of Riverside, and Annika Hurtig of Huntington Beach. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Betty Ann Hurtig Lovik and Marie Johanna Hurtig Dahlquist, all of the Minneapolis area. Private services will be held at Riverside National Cemetery.