Kurt Haeker

Kurt Thomas Haeker of Billings, Montana, died August 30, 2023, at home. He was born March 30, 1961, in Longmont, Colorado to Clarence (Pete) and Jane (Thomas/Schluntz) Haeker. He was the youngest of two siblings. He attended schools in the Longmont area and graduated from Niwot High School in 1979. After high school graduation, he hitchhiked and backpacked in Alaska. He was a great adventurer his entire life. After his epic backpacking trip, he graduated with honors from Colorado State University. While working as a temporary National Park employee in 1992, he met Denise Quirante. Denise and Kurt were married on June 24, 1995, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Longmont, Colorado. They lived in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming area for several years, and built a home in Victor, Idaho. They eventually moved to Salt Lake City where he started his career in real estate and construction. Kurt and Denise have a son Beau who was born in Salt Lake City on June 28, 2003. They moved to Billings, Montana in 2007. Kurt is survived by his loving wife and son, his mother Jane Haeker of Longmont, his sister Dawn Martinsen of Longmont, and nephew Chris (Kara) Hobson, of Greeley, Colorado and niece Kathryn (Chris Elliott) of Staunton, Virginia, and numerous relatives. Kurt loved animals, the outdoors, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, exploring and traveling. He was an Eagle Scout, an avid reader and an entrepreneur. He wanted to learn about everything. He had a bright inquisitive mind, loved biology, science, religion and philosophy and tales of the West. He was devoted to his wife and son, and his mom. Kurt was a deeply religious and spiritual person and died with a strong belief in God. He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents, uncle and cousin. A memorial service will be held on September 16, on a family farm in Nebraska. The family requests no flowers but to make a charitable contribution to an organization that supports wildlife, hunting or fishing or wetlands.