Kurt Pauker

Kurt Pauker, age 90, passed away on August 8, 2025. He was born in 1935 to the late Osias (Oscar) Pauker and Eva Sonnenshein Pauker in Czernowitz (Bukovina). His family was deported during the Holocaust to a series of concentration camps in Transnistria. Following liberation, he and his parents briefly lived in Bucharest before emigrating to Tel Aviv, Israel. Kurt attended high school in Israel and served in the Israeli army for eight years before immigrating to the United States in 1960, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.

Kurt was proud to have been awarded patents for his engineering work at P.R. Mallory & Co. He spent the majority of his career at Citizen’s Gas in Indianapolis. At its founding, he co-owned Bagel Fair in Nora Plaza, a multigenerational family business. Kurt taught Hebrew school at the Jewish Educational Association in the 1970s and Sunday school at Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. He was a longtime member of IHC and later a member of Shaarey Tefilla in honor of his parents.

Kurt was a lifelong learner who spoke multiple languages and had a curious nature, along with a desire to explore new fields and expand his knowledge. He was a ham radio operator in the 70s and 80s, having earned the most advanced class of licensure, and took pride in assisting disaster relief efforts to connect families and convey information prior to the advent of the internet. He was an avid motorcyclist and a collector of new and antique motorcycles. He was a soccer coach and commissioner of the Carmel Dads’ Club soccer league. After retirement, he embraced a love of travel and explored the world. Kurt was a talented engineer who applied his skills to every aspect of life and could always be counted on to find solutions to complex technical problems. He was always available to help, having collaborated with family on engineering issues up until the week before his death. Kurt took great pride in his children and each of his grandchildren, cherishing their unique qualities and talents.

Kurt is survived by children Juli Pauker, Max Pauker (Kristi Kingsbury), Robyn Pauker (David Honig), and grandchildren, Lindsey Gergel, Zack Gergel, Elizabeth Pauker, Jake Pauker (Belinda Benham), Josh Honig, and Ari Honig. Kurt was preceded in death by his former wife and lifelong friend, Reyna Fettner Pauker.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. https://donate.ushmm.org/6hRw6kqugUOvJLNKCIbD1g2

Funeral service will be held at Aaron-Ruben-Nelson Mortuary, 11411 North Michigan Road, at 11am on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Burial will follow in Congregation Beth-El Zedeck South Cemetery.

The Pauker family will be sitting shiva following the interment until 7 PM at 2811 Maralice Avenue, Carmel, IN 46033.