Kurt Hildebrand

1946 - 2025

Born April 12, 1946, Kurt Hildebrand and his older sister Marla were raised by their mother, June Hildebrand, in their Southwest Seattle Arbor Heights home. While in 9th grade at Denny Junior High School, Kurt's mother won a brand new 75 horsepower Evinrude outboard motor after entering a contest at the Seattle Boat Show. She took the cash equivalent and bought a boat for her son – starting his enjoyment of life on the water. Kurt's first boat was a coral deck/white hull 12' Luger runabout with a Mercury Mark 30 outboard and trailer. In high school, Kurt began working part-time jobs, earning enough to purchase the first of many special cars and starting his enjoyment for life on wheels.

After graduating from Sealth High School, Kurt attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, and also joined the US Air Force Reserve. Kurt married Carol Thomason shortly after graduation and together they purchased their first home in West Seattle's Admiral District. He enrolled in University of Puget Sound's Law School, but chose to leave law school prior to the birth of the couple's first child, Erik. He then joined Boeing in the Industrial Engineering Group's 747 final assembly team in Everett. Over time, the commute from West Seattle to Everett became too much and he explored new opportunities in the construction industry. During the next 35 years, Kurt worked in senior management roles at several major Seattle construction firms. He was extremely well known and respected in the industry, serving as the President of the Associated General Contractors of Washington in 2003.

In 2009, Kurt retired from full-time work and moved from Mercer Island to Fox Island, where he made an additional group of friends. In the summer months, Wednesday "brat nights" on his deck were the place to be. More recently, he socialized over coffee at Gig Harbor's Metropolitan Market with his buddies. Kurt's passion for cars and boats continued throughout this life. He loved collecting and driving Porsches, cruising in the San Juans, and zipping around the South Sound in his Boston Whalers.

For the past 18 years what gave him the most joy was spending time with his granddaughters.

Kurt is survived by his son Erik, daughter Katie, and granddaughters Sydney, Raya, and Seneca.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Gig Harbor Yacht Club on November 3rd at 2:00 p.m.