July 11, 1950 - September 11, 2014
Kurt left us peacefully, surrounded by family, succumbing to complications from a surgical procedure.
Born in Washington, D.C., Kurt grew up in the transient world of an Air Force brat - moving around from Virginia to England, Kansas, Virginia again, Japan, and finally Texas, where he graduated from Randolph High School, Class of '67. After a few years on his own in San Antonio and Houston, he rejoined the family in the Philippines, then Hawaii, before settling in Denver in 1974.
Kurt was a man of many interests. From cars to airplanes, Dali to Asian artifacts, history to humor, blues to Rock 'n Roll. He earned a Bachelor's in Business from Regis University and Master's Certificate in Telecommunications from University of Denver. He had numerous successful business ventures ranging from oil & gas to imported Balinese art to vintage guitars and amps, but his crowning achievement was the Linhof Special guitar.
Within this eclectic mix, his true calling was music. He began with the accordion - probably not his first choice - in elementary school, but his heart wasn't in it. Then, at 14, he bought a red electric guitar at the air base where the family was stationed in Japan. Dad insisted his first song be "Home on the Range." He mastered that promptly, and the rest, as they say, is history. Kurt went on to write, produce and perform music; and collect, customize, and manufacture fine instruments for the rest of his life. Everything else seemed to be an addendum. He will be sorely missed by family, friends, and followers. Rock on, brother.
Kurt is survived by son Chris, wife Verlene, brother Ted, and wonderful mom, Millie.
Funeral Home:
Fairmount Mortuary, Cemetery & Cremation Services
This is a note I received from Kurt before the 2008 Reunion:
I'm Kurt Linhof\, class of '67 - Biographically\, I spent almost 2 1/2 years at The Ro-Hawk Institute.Have great memories\, and good friend Susan Ohman just hooked me up with you and the network\, so I'm now on your mailing list and happy to see it's so active.Attached is a pic - I'm still playing music for kicks\, and writing and recording\, and am a custom electric guitar builder to the stars (Stones\, Joe Walsh\, John Mayer\, Clapton\, etc.) but in real life\, have operated a Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas consulting company for almost 30 years\, which finances my other hobbies habits quite nicely these days. I've been living in Denver since I left Texas\, after 10 years of rock & roll in Houston and Dallas\, quitting the music business\, before it killed me\, in 1977.I'm looking at buying something South of here for the winters (Playa del Carmen) as I'm getting too creaky for this Denver weather\, as good as it is the rest of the time...If any Ro-Hawk reading this has the hot tip on buying cheap land (hahaha) near the beach south of Cancun\, Quintana Roo\, I'm all ears. I still love it but San Antonio just isn't far enough south...I'll see y'all at the reunion!All the best\,Kurt Linhof
430 South Quebec Street
Denver, Colorado, UNITED STATES
80247
(I have no family contacts to give you. this information was sent to me by another former Ro-Hawk, Rob Curtis, rcurtis@capitalfex.com, Class of '67)
This is a note I received from Kurt before the 2008 Reunion:
I'm Kurt Linhof\, class of '67 - Biographically\, I spent almost 2 1/2 years at The Ro-Hawk Institute.Have great memories\, and good friend Susan Ohman just hooked me up with you and the network\, so I'm now on your mailing list and happy to see it's so active.Attached is a pic - I'm still playing music for kicks\, and writing and recording\, and am a custom electric guitar builder to the stars (Stones\, Joe Walsh\, John Mayer\, Clapton\, etc.) but in real life\, have operated a Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas consulting company for almost 30 years\, which finances my other hobbies habits quite nicely these days. I've been living in Denver since I left Texas\, after 10 years of rock & roll in Houston and Dallas\, quitting the music business\, before it killed me\, in 1977.I'm looking at buying something South of here for the winters (Playa del Carmen) as I'm getting too creaky for this Denver weather\, as good as it is the rest of the time...If any Ro-Hawk reading this has the hot tip on buying cheap land (hahaha) near the beach south of Cancun\, Quintana Roo\, I'm all ears. I still love it but San Antonio just isn't far enough south...I'll see y'all at the reunion!All the best\,Kurt Linhof
