Miles J. Kurina, 90, of Northborough

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Miles J. KurinaNorthborough – Miles Kurina died peacefully at home surrounded by family, at age 90, on September 8, 2023. Miles was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Joseph and Anna Kurina, both immigrants from Czechoslovakia. Miles was raised in the heart of the Czech community in Berwyn, Illinois.

The first in his family to attend college, Miles attended Purdue University and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. Immediately after graduation, Miles was drafted into the Army and worked on the engineering team of Wernher von Braun, who led a rocket development research lab in Huntsville, Alabama. That experience was the first in a long series of aerospace and defense-related engineering projects to which Miles dedicated his working career. A brilliant engineer, Miles was involved in the Apollo lunar landing missions.

Following his stint in the Army, Miles moved to Santa Monica, California to work at Hughes Aircraft. It was in Santa Monica that Miles met the love of his life, Jane Marie Peters (“sweetest one in the world”). Miles and Jane were married in 1960 and built a life of love, family, and laughter together for the ensuing 63 years. With all of his contributions to the world of engineering, it was his family, the love for which he expressed with words and actions every day, that was the most important thing in his life.

Miles was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Jane Kurina, his son Jeffrey Kurina and his wife Susan, his son Stephen Kurina and his wife Beth, and his daughter Lianne Kurina and her husband Jonathan Pritchard. He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren, to whom he was deeply attached: Jacci Lisovskis, Lindsay Kurina, Brandon Kurina, Lilly Kurina, Drew Kurina, Anna Kurina, John Kurina, Tess Kurina, Ryan Kurina, Simon Pritchard, and Lucy Pritchard.

Miles loved his family and the communities of which he was a part. He coached baseball and organized family ski trips when the kids were young, enjoyed a decades-long lunchtime bridge game with his work friends, served as a lector at St. John’s in Wellesley and was later active at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northborough. In retirement, he relished working on and going out on his boat with his friends, traveling with Jane, and golfing with the Northborough Senior Center group. He was a kind and generous person who was always there for those who needed him. We will miss his humor and his gentle and loving presence so very much.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 13, in Saint Rose of Lima Parish, 244 W. Main Street, Northborough. Following the funeral Mass, Miles will be laid to rest privately in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon. There are no calling hours.

Arrangements are under the care of Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.HaysFuneralHome.com.

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