Kurt L. Micheel, 51

Kurt L. Micheel, age 51, passed away Friday, January 19, 2024.

Kurt Micheel was born on June 28, 1972, to Bill and Ruth Micheel in Brown County Hospital, in Ainsworth, NE. He attended grade school at Rural District 21 and graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1991. He spent his early years on the family ranch west of Ainsworth where he developed his love for ranching.

After spending some time in the Kearney area working for various feedlots, his love for livestock brought him back to Newport, NE.

During his time in Newport, Kurt’s career took various forms. While also trucking for several years, Kurt developed and ran his own waterline installation business for livestock wells.

Then, following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Kurt began to build his longhorn herd - among his favorites was Blondie, his infamous longhorn who led each and every cattle drive. After Blondie had passed at the age of 23, Kurt proudly displayed the horns in his wife’s vet clinic.

Kurt was the Newport Fire Chief for many years and was a volunteer ambulance driver for several years. Including during the 2012 Nebraska wildfires, where you can see his picture sitting in the green Ford fire truck during the blazes in book that was written about the event.

Importantly, during this time Kurt raised his two eldest daughters Keyanna and Olivia.

In March of 2013, Kurt met his wife, Lindsey Straka. The two began to build a life together in Newport and Atkinson, NE. The ranch was south of Newport raising Angus cattle, and a few “herd marker” longhorns, as Kurt fondly called them. If it wasn’t for the Schafer Chevy gently being able to coax them back in the pasture where they were supposed to go they probably wouldn’t have lasted until this day.

Kurt helped Lindsey at the clinic with many things, including running the Daniel’s chute. He referred to himself as the world’s best cow pincher, and he was without argument. He was exceptional at anything he put his mind to. From welding horseshoe art, to rigging up tanks and pumps for fire rigs, knowing when the hay was ready, how much to mow, or just doing what needed done before anyone had even thought of it. When it came to helping others his thoughtfulness knew no bounds. He always had the right idea to cheer someone up, or do something that would make their life easier or bring a smile to their face. And most times make him smile with that ornery grin and unforgettable laugh he always had.

The pair was blessed to join their two families in marriage on October 17, 2017 and added to their family Tinzley Micheel on June 27, 2015. Kurt had always joked if Lindsey could have waited a half hour for the csection Tinzley would have been born on his birthday instead.

Kurt was survived in death by his wife, Lindsey Micheel; children, Keyanna and Blaine Fix of Atkinson, Olivia Micheel of Bassett, NE, Jack Janzing, and Tinzley Micheel of Atkinson; parents, Bill and Ruth Micheel of Ainsworth; brother, Rex and Julie Micheel of Ainsworth; sister, Roxane Micheel and Brian Schwartz of Norfolk, NE; parents-in-law, Bert and Karen Straka of Stuart, NE; sister-in-law, Susan Straka (Heyden) and Shannon, sister-in-law, Tracy Thompson and Doug of Atkinson, and brother-in-law, Alan Straka of O’Neill; as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many other friends and family.

Kurt was preceded in death by his brother, Doug Micheel; grandparents, Otto and Dorothy (Pinkie) Micheel, Kenneth and Alice Emry, Ortha and Russel Emry; and granddaughter, Bristol Fix.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established at the Nebraska Bank in Atkinson for future education for Tinzley and Jack.