Erica J. Hursey

Erica J. Hursey, 66, of DeWitt, Iowa, passed peacefully on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Fieldstone of DeWitt.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 6, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa, with Pastor Sara Olson-Smith officiating. Visitation will be an hour prior to services. Immediately following services, a funeral luncheon will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Concluding lunch, burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery in DeWitt, Iowa. In memory of Erica, contributions may be made to the DeWitt Referral Center, whose mission she deeply admired: dewittreferralcenter.org

Shortly after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Erica chose to share her own story and the things that mattered most to her, while her memories were still clear. 

"I was born and raised in a family with wonderful parents and siblings, and I treasured our extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. We looked forward to and celebrated all the traditional holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions, had amazing vacations, and enjoyed family games and being together. I also had many childhood friends who I still hold close. Don and Jean Primmer were no more perfect parents than anyone else, but they loved us and taught us how to love others. I lost my sister Jackie when I was only 5 and don’t have many memories of her, but I learned about death and loss from that tragedy. Sandy also left the world too soon but not before being a fantastic big sister, friend, confidant, and mentor to me. Her daughters, Jacque and Erin, now grown of course, are like my first children. My brother Kurt had two sons, Curtis and Zach, but he was also taken from us too soon. I love him and miss the many great times we had together. Fortunately, Jody and Cliff are still here with us, and they both have wonderful loving families who continue to add joy to my life.

John and I fell in love, were married, and travelled the world together. We were blessed with four children along the way. John Jr. officially changed my name to mom and Keith, Monica, and Natalie soon followed. As we travelled near and far, “six together forever” became our family mantra. While the number six has increased with spouses, significant-others and grandchildren, the sentiment remains.

We visited countless faraway lands and resided in many of those places, gaining a perspective that I never thought I would have. We saw so much of the world but also sacrificed the connection of our children and their extended families. Nonetheless, our family benefitted from a firsthand look at many different countries and gained a sense of the vastness and diversity of the world.

One by one we celebrated our children coming of age and the birth of their offspring. We found a whole new sense of fulfillment and love with grandchildren and sadly grieved the loss of one. Throughout the years, our family has remained strong and together in spirit, if not in space.

Funny that after all the travel and exposure to the world, John and I found our little piece of heaven in small-town Iowa. DeWitt has been such a wonderful place to enjoy retirement, grandchildren, and community. In 2020, we decided to abandon cold weather to spend our winters in Florida, waking up every morning just steps from the powder-sand beach of the Gulf of Mexico.

I knew that my memory had been failing for several years, but it was still a shock to all of us when my dementia was finally confirmed. While my memory continues to deteriorate, I am blessed to still have a strong sense of the here and now and can still embrace and feel the love of those I hold dearest. I’m hopeful that my disease progression will continue at a slow pace, and I’m trying to not take a single moment for granted.

I’ve never been a quitter, but I have no desire to see my horrible disease through to fruition. I hope that God takes me before I lose the ability to love and know that I’m loved. Mine has truly been a life well-lived, so when I’m gone don’t cry for me; remember me and care for and love each other. And yes Natalie, you get the ring."

Erica is survived by her husband, John Wesley Hursey Sr; her sons, John Wesley (Rebecca Hubbard) Hursey Jr. of Edwardsville, Illinois and Keith Allen (Mara, nee Scheer) Hursey of Duluth, Minnesota; her daughters, Monica Ann Hursey of DeWitt, Iowa and Natalie Jean Hursey of Dewitt, IA; her grandsons Callan and Liam; and her granddaughters Rosiland, Leia, Samantha, and Sabrina. She is also survived by her sisters, Jody (Randy) White, nee Primmer of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Lisa Richards, nee Stuff of Xenia, Ohio; her brother, Donald Clifford (Samantha, nee Kennedy) Primmer of Columbus, Ohio; and many beloved nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Abrielle Jean Marie; her mother, Jean Marie Primmer, nee Whitsell; her father, Donald C. Primmer; her sisters, Jacqueline Lee Primmer and Sandra Joyce Primmer; her brother-in-laws, Maynard J. (Dil) Hoover and Robert Richards; and her brother, Curtis Martin Primmer.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.