John Gurtler

FRANKLIN - John Edward Gurtler left this earthly realm early on the morning of Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at home with his wife and children by his side.
John was born Jan. 27, 1950, in Fairbanks, Alaska. The temperature that morning was -32 with a wind chill factor of -50. His family moved to Seattle, Washington, when John was two years old and that's where he grew up. John became a Christian in Polson, Montana, in the summer of 1969 and was encouraged to apply to a small college in Temple Terrace, Florida, where a focus on Biblical studies was offered. He set out for Florida from Washington in January 1970, hitchhiking across the USA. He sold his '57 Chevy to help fund the trek.
In the fall of 1970, he met his wife on that Florida College campus and they were together for nearly 55 years. They married in 1972 and over the course of 12 years they had four children. John began "full-time" evangelistic work in 1975. He preached and served congregations in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia and North Carolina. He began his ministry in Franklin at Westside Church of Christ in April 1998. He taught the adult Bible class and preached his last sermon there Aug. 11, 2024, (although some of his more powerful and poignant lessons were taught from the pew as he continued to attend worship services during his final months of battling colon cancer). On Aug. 15, 2024, it was discovered the cancer had spread extensively. John went home with hospice care and focused on several projects around the house.
He was a skillful carpenter, tile worker, Jack of all trades and master of many. John deeply loved his family, friends and neighbors. He was very generous with his time, efforts and the little bit of monetary gain he had in this world. His interests were wide and varied, from all kinds of antiques, bottles, baskets, coins, golf clubs, old windows and more. His lifelong hobby of collecting duck decoys has fostered the same interests in some of his grandchildren. John thoroughly enjoyed shopping, especially for "his girls."
He was an animal lover, leaving behind two large lads he rescued in 2018 and 2020, a Black Lab and Brazilian Mastiff. There was mutual adoration with his two Chihuahua lasses.
John is survived by his wife, Joan Hammonds Gurtler; mother, Camille Simon of Sequim, Washington; children, Joshua (Jana) Gurtler of Morgantown, Pennsylvania, Jared (Kendra) Gurtler of Chelsea, Alabama, John Samuel Gurtler of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Janna (Brett) Gurtler Harris of Prattville, Alabama; brothers, Charles (Hiroko) Simon of Kurtistown, Hawaii. and Matthew (Kim) Simon of Sequim, Washington; nine grandchildren, who were his crowning glory, Tristan Gurtler, McKenna Gurtler, Landon Gurtler, Ella Gurtler, Owen Gurtler, Audrey Gurtler, Jamie Harris, Hudson Harris and Ruby Gurtler; a host of dear friends from his Westside Church family; and countless family and friends across the country.
John was preceded in death by his father, Jack Gurtler, in 2009, and brother, Sam Gurtler, in 1986.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Feb. 15, at Macon Funeral Home in Franklin. The family will receive friends from 12-2 p.m., with the funeral following. Ralph Gilchrest and Terry Partain will formally officiate. Sons Joshua and John Samuel will be speaking as well. Interment of John's ashes will be sometime later at Painter Liberty Baptist Cemetery in Painter, Alabama.
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come and the years draw near…and the dust returns to the earth it."
Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com. Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.