Kurt Taber

It is with deep sadness and heartbreak that we are informing you of the passing of Kurt Taber; husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, godfather, friend and overall good guy, on April 13, 2022.

Kurt was born on July 12, 1957 to Percy and Mildred Taber, joining his sister Shari and brother Kent.

He attended Eagle Bend Public School and graduated in 1975. He attended Wadena Vocational Institute

after high school. He moved to Redwood Falls, Minnesota in 1976 where he worked for Schult Homes.

While living in Redwood he met his wife Annette through a mutual friend. They didn't even have time to go on a real date before Kurt got a call from his sister's husband, Bill Colby, to come to Fresno, CA for a job at Bingham Toyota. He relocated to Fresno in May 1977. He and Annette corresponded through letters and phone calls and he convinced Annette to come visit him in California. It must have been love because he proposed to her on August 6, 1977. They married on September 2, 1978 and started their lives together in Clovis, CA. They welcomed their daughter Katie on February 3, 1982 and son Kevin on March 12, 1985.

While living in Clovis, Kurt made many lifelong friends working at Bingham Toyota, doing mechanic side jobs and playing in a Men's over 30 basketball league. Kurt was an easy guy to be friends with and you knew he had your back, but at the same time was quick to make a comeback with a smart ass remark too.

Kurt was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in July 1990 and due to ongoing progression of the disease retired from Bingham's in 1999. Kurt never let the disease control him – he was persistent and ornery and he continued to do as much as possible despite his limitations. Not one for sitting around, he tried his hand at owning properties with his friend Terry, as well as worked at his brother-in-law Bill Colby's shop restoring cars. After these ventures ended, he volunteered at Fresno City College in the Body Shop class checking out tools to the students. Pretty quickly he was helping students with the mechanical repairs of their project cars. Seeing the need for students to learn this, the college created a class - Hot Rod Technology – where Kurt taught for two years.

Kurt and Annette welcomed their first grandchild Benaiah in April 2008. They decided to move to Aurora, Colorado in Dec. 2009 to be closer to Katie, Joshua and Benaiah. After moving to Colorado they welcomed three other grandkids – Theodore, Beatrice and Analise. Kurt so enjoyed and loved being a grandpa (Bapa as the kids called him). He played with them as much as his physical limitations allowed. Playing hide and seek or tag with him on his mobility scooter chasing the kids was a sight to see-and the kids loved it.

In June 2019 Kurt and Annette bought a home with Katie and Josh where they could all live together as a way to provide Kurt some safety and assistance due again to progression of his MS. Kurt loved his new place-looking out at the wide open space out back where he could continue to pursue his love of gardening and watching deer, hawks, geese and ducks that utilized the backspace too. His favorite part of living together was being close to the grandkids and seeing them everyday. He loved them and they loved him.

While Kurt was still able to travel he visited family in Minnesota as well as trips back to California to see family and friends. Kurt especially enjoyed visiting with Kevin where he liked to “supervise” and give him advice on lawn and garden care...and maybe spoil him a little.

Kurt was a man who always looked for the good in others and was always willing to lend a helping hand. He loved his wife, kids and grandkids and was always proud and determined to do as much as possible and not ask for help. His favorite saying was, “If a little is good, more is better, and too much is our goal.” This pretty much sums up how he lived, he was never one to give it just a little...he put his all into everything he did.

We feel cheated we couldn't have more time with him but also feel relieved he no longer has to suffer. He is now whole again and that thought gives us all comfort. Thank you for being a part of his life and may you all be blessed as you each recall your special memories of Kurt.

A private celebration of Kurt's life will be done by the immediate family at a later date. The family is requesting any memorials be made in Kurt's memory to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In loving memory,

His wife Annette; children Katie and Kevin; son-in-law Joshua; and grandchildren Benaiah, Theodore, Beatrice & Analise.