Kurt was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the second of five children born to Richard D. and Marilyn (White) Lesh.
During his senior year at Wayne High School in Nebraska, Kurt met the love of his life, Rosa Mery Castillo, an exchange student from Venezuela. Kurt, a life-long Huskers fan, enrolled at the University of Nebraska where he became a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Kurt and Rosa Mery were married on July 3, 1976. Kurt earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska in 1979. After graduation he completed a family practice residency and then moved to York, Nebraska to begin private practice in 1982. In August of 1993 he, with his wife and two children, relocated to Colorado Springs to join Colorado Springs Family Practice.
Dr. Lesh became a highly respected family physician in both York, Nebraska and Colorado Springs, Colorado, practicing for over 42 years. He earned a reputation as a caring doctor that believed in a partnership with his patients based on mutual trust and respect. He was an inspiration to his children, Kevin becoming a family and sports medicine physician and Jennifer an attorney. After many years with Colorado Springs Family Practice, he and his practice partner were sought out by MDVIP, a concierge medicine organization, to open a new practice. He retired from MDVIP and practicing medicine in October of 2021.
Kurt was eclectic in his interests and passions. He was fond of travelling and other cultures, which he said emanated from his relationship with Rosa Mery. He enjoyed international food, cars, and guns. He visited all 50 states as well as countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.
Kurt was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed skiing, gardening, fly fishing with bamboo fly rods, hunting big and small game, and spending time with his three Brittanys, Britt, Chuck, and Jack. He enjoyed attending Safari Club International conventions, which led to him and his family going on safaris in Africa where he hunted big game. Kurt was very active with the Lander One Shot Antelope Hunt and attended yearly after first competing in 2008. He was also active in the Nebraska One Box Pheasant Hunt in Broken Bow, first competing in 2010. Kevin competed on November 6, 2021 in his father’s honor, just four days after his passing.
Kurt was an active member of The Brotherhood of St. Hubertus for eight years, a worldwide organization and knightly order of hunters and wildlife conservationists that promotes traditional hunting ethics and practices. He was knighted at St. Anne Catholic Church in Houston, Texas in March 2013.
While his list of passions was long, nothing was more important to him than being a husband, father, and grandfather. He was known to make many long and late-night drives (perhaps at high rates of speed) with his wife to attend events for his children while they attended schools in different states, as well as Husker games, and other events with family and friends. He never wanted to miss anything for his family, and he never did.
Kurt was an interesting mix of frugality, generosity and, at times, extravagance. Kurt was a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast, took his steak very rare, enjoyed Spanish red wines, bourbon, and a gin and tonic with two limes. He had many signature sayings including, “we have a full-time staff working on it,” “daddy fix it,” and “you do whatever it takes to get the job done.” He was passionate about family traditions, a trait that his children have taken to heart to carry on with their families.
He is survived by his wife Rosa Mery; son Kevin (Caitlyn), granddaughters Vera, Nora, and Stella; daughter Jennifer (Jason) and granddaughter Blair; mother Marilyn; sisters Linda (Dan), Lisa, and Lori (Alfred); brother Kipp; nieces and nephews Harrison (Madoka), Emma, Amy (Johannes), Emily, Ross, Julia, and Clayton; and great niece and nephews Lily, Henry, George, and Erik.
He is preceded by his father Richard Lesh; Rosa Mery’s parents, Francisco Castillo and Carmen Hernandez; Rosa Mery’s host parents, Max and Margaret Lundstrom; sister-in-law Carmina Castillo; and brother-in-law David Bey.
Kurt W. Lesh, husband, healer, hunter, and Husker. Kurt W. Lesh, father, family man, fisherman, and friend. Kurt W. Lesh, a person of purpose and passion who loved and fully lived a life with energy and enthusiasm that mattered much to many before it ended too soon.
In lieu of flowers and in Kurt's memory, please do not drive in the left lane unless you are passing, and please use your turn signal. He was not fond of left-lane drivers and drivers not using turn signals. Additionally, donations can be made in his honor to the Water for Wildlife Foundation, his favorite charity and wildlife conservation organization. The Water for Wildlife Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization designed to benefit our nation's wildlife and has installed more than 500 water projects in 12 western states. www.waterforwildlife.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Swan-Law.com for the Lesh family.
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