Kurt Andrew Hugel

1968 - 2022

Kurt Andrew Hugel, age 53, passed away on April 2, 2022, in the city of his birth, New Orleans, LA. He will be most remembered by those who loved him for his quick wit, guileful sarcasm, unwavering honesty, thunderous laugh, and sensitive heart. Born on September 28, 1968, Kurt was always one to make his own way. A gentle giant at 6 feet 7 inches tall and long, brown hair down his back, he had a way of making his presence known. Kurt had a lifelong love of music and art and was known to drag a friend along to see a concert, especially the Eagles, Pink Floyd, Ozzy Osbourne, Bread, Guns & Roses, blues, or jazz. He had a deep love of New Orleans' art, food, and culture – from long walks in the French Quarter with his best friend, Rebecca, to leisurely dinners at Antoine's (thank you, Charles), to muddy days at Jazz Fest. Inquisitive by nature and absurdly intelligent, Kurt was a lifelong learner who embraced his own talent for music and art. His guitar collection was unmatched and well-used, and he loved drawing. A graphic artist, he took pride in creating everything from t-shirt prints, to banners, to signature throws for the Krewe of Bacchus. In 2018, Kurt founded Gulf Coast Louisiana Vending, LLC, serving small business owners in the New Orleans area and Houma. An entrepreneur at heart, Kurt proved to have found his niche in the freedom of his own business and was appreciated by his clients. A self-proclaimed sarcastic a**hole, Kurt was a great conversationalist, a considerate confidante, and a troublemaker at the end of the family dinner table. He was the kind of friend you could meet at Lots of Luck after years apart and talk as if no time had passed. Although he had trouble finding solace in his life and firmly rejected organized religion, he felt safe in his relationship with God and often sat alone in quiet contemplation. He was the least guarded in the company of animals – especially rescued cats – and children, who loved him whole-heartedly in return. Never one to be limited, Kurt valued the freedom to think and believe for oneself above all else. For Kurt, perhaps Heaven is filled with egg pies, playing guitar, Blanton's (double on the rocks), arguing with old friends about the mayor, long talks with his dad, his favorite breakfast from Melius, a plethora of loyal cats, and good weed. Kurt is survived by his loving mother, Antha Ann Hugel of New Orleans; stepmother Julia Goszczynski Hugel of Jackson, Wyoming; aunts Mary Todd, Mary Sanders of New Orleans; uncle Howard Sanders (Rita) of Arlington, Texas; siblings Dieter Michael Hugel, Sr. (Anna) of New Orleans; Mark Alexander Hugel (Rachael) of Dallas; and Gabriele Urlacher Wolf (Stephan) of Remseck, Germany; cousins Nicole Todd of New Orleans; Miles Brandon of New Orleans; Lori Meo, Robyn Curtis of Arlington, Texas; Evelyn Breaux Tennyson of Pagosa Springs, CO; and Marilyn Breaux of New Orleans; numerous nieces and nephews: Mark Jason Taliancich (Meagen) of New Orleans and their sons, Zeek and Charlie; Sebastian Wolf (Janina) of Füssen, Germany; Max Wolf of Cologne, Germany; Anna Kristina Hugel of New Orleans; Anna-Lisa Wolf of Remseck, Germany; Dieter Michael Hugel. Jr. of New Orleans; and his cats: Kyle Andrew Hugel and Karl Andrew Hugel. Kurt is preceded in death by his father, Dieter Max Hugel; his grandmothers, Anna Ebner Hugel and Mazie Guidry; his grandfathers, Max Egon Hugel and Dr. Edwin Guidry; his aunt, Regina Hugel Jarrett; and uncle Rolf Hugel. Visitation will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries (5100 Pontchartrain Blvd) on April 21, 2022, at 12pm, followed by a funeral service at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Jefferson SPCA, The Roots of Music, and the Alzheimer's Association.