Kevin Haezebroeck

1958 - 2025

Kevin Haezebroeck

January 25, 1958 - October 3, 2025

It's with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Kevin Charles Haezebroeck. At only 67 years old, Kevin suffered a massive heart attack on October 3, 2025, while exercising outside his home in Romeo, Michigan. Upon his retirement several years ago, he split his time bouncing back and forth between Michigan and Illinois. We openly joked that Kevin summered in Michigan and wintered in Illinois.

Kevin was born January 25, 1958, in Moline, IL. Upon graduating from St. Ambrose University, he embarked on a successful career in the newspaper industry that took him from coast to coast and several places in between. Due to his experience on both the advertising as well as the editorial side of the business, Kevin quickly rose through the ranks to become a publisher before ultimately being responsible for several newspapers in Michigan that reported directly to him. His high-profile position in the Detroit metro area afforded him many unique experiences such as entertaining clients at the company's skybox for the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings home games, throwing out the ceremonial 'first pitch' at a Tigers game, traveling with the Lions players and coaches on their team plane to away games, and even serving on the Super Bowl Committee when Detroit hosted the big game in 2006. Albeit a lot of fun, Kevin viewed those things as 'just part of the job.' What he truly loved most about the industry was managing the excitement and chaos associated with publishing daily papers (i.e. the never-ending news cycle, print deadlines, advertising revenues, circulation issues, labor union negotiations, etc.). The newspaper industry was his passion, and although his job was stressful, he thrived in that disruptive environment. Socially, Kevin still played the drums and even played a live gig at a bar in Detroit (which he teased was a 'bucket-list' moment for him). He enjoyed working out and simply hanging out with family and friends.

Kevin was cremated in Michigan, and is survived by his son, Jonathon Haezebroeck of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his 91-year-old mother, Bev Haezebroeck of Moline, Ill.; sister, Kris Haezebroeck and her husband Robert Troutman of Moline, Ill.; and brother, Brian Haezebroeck (wife Stephanie and their son, Ethan) of Bettendorf, Iowa. Kevin was preceded in death by his father, Leon Haezebroeck who died October 7, 1985.

An informal Celebration of Life will be held at Len Brown's North Shore Inn in Moline, Ill. on Saturday, October 18th from 2 to 5 p.m. Please stop by to have a drink, share a story, or just hang out with others who also knew Kevin.

Kevin was a father, son, brother, friend, and many other things we cannot commit to print. His intellect, humor and friendship will be greatly missed.