Kurt Walter Neils

Kurt Walter Neils was born Feb, 25, 1951, in Libby to Richard P. and Shirley M. Neils. Kurt passed away on Jan. 14, 2017, in Yuma, Arizona.

Kurt was the third of five boys in the Richard Neils family (Grandfather Walter Neils). Kurt is survived by his wife, Paula Neils, of Yuma. His former wife, Krista Neils and two children, Krisanna C. Folmer, (Jamie) and children Alyssa, Jacob, Joshua, Justin, and AJ of Olympia, Washington. Benjamin R. Neils, (Summer) and children, Timmy, and Evan of Olympia, Washington. Stepdaughters, Jessica Raney and children, Jacob and Adam, Lena Haygood, (Daniel) and children, Ethan, Evan, and Easton. Stepson Christopher Hancock, all of Yuma. Brothers Scott R. Neils, (Pricilla) of Dumfries, Virginia, Ralph E. Neils,(Edna) of Kalispell, Ward E. Neils, (Robin) and Alan G. Neils, (Debra) both of Tacoma, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Kurt was an avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting and fishing. His dad called him “the wanderer.” Kurt loved to ramble through the woods near his home and explore. He once saw a young moose across the street from the Libby home and asked if he could go “ride the horsey.” The family has a cabin on Bull Lake, where the boys loved to swim, fish, water-ski, shoot guns, and, oh yes, eat. Summer was an outdoor dream for Kurt.

Kurt was a natural born salesman, a talent he inherited from his father. It was said that Kurt could sell ice to Eskimos. That was the case as he went to Alaska in the 1970s with the big oil boom. Kurt worked for Pepsi Co distributor in the Kenai Peninsula for 20 years. He enjoyed the outdoors again with hunting and fishing the famous Kenai River.

Kurt retired from the Pepsi business in Alaska and decided to move where the weather was always warm, Yuma, AZ. Kurt became a franchisee for MacTools. In 1998, he married Paula. He built a successful business in Yuma and shortly before his death, began grooming his stepson-in-law to take over the business.

Kurt was loved by all who met him, captured by his warm smile and easy manner. Kurt was politically conservative and enjoyed being called a “redneck”. He had Jesus Christ in his heart from an early age, reinforced by a firm Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor who taught Catechism Class, and didn’t like it when Kurt skipped Church for the opening day of duck season.

He will be truly missed by his wife, family and customers.