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<p><em>Kurt Konrad Heinzerling</em> was born on February 14, 1956 in Hennepin, MN to Dr. Carl and Patricia Heinzerling. Kurt’s father taught his children to ride horseback, operate a boat, water ski and downhill ski. This began Kurt’s love of skiing. He attended Chaska Senior High School, where he was an Eagle Scout, cross country captain, and a ski and track team member. Kurt was nominated by his congressman to attend USMA in 1974. </p>
<p>Gene Ressler recalled Kurt as fearless: “We were in B-3 for plebe and yearling years. I remember him when we delivered laundry. B-3 had some big flame First Classmen who enjoyed bracing plebes for an hour at a time. As we worked away at the piles, I observed everyone avoiding the packages with the flame First Classmen’s names on the slips. I remember watching Kurt look at the packages, say something unrepeatable under his breath, haul one away, then come back for another. It was a small example of the way he approached life. Kurt just figured out what was needed and did it without regard for inconvenience or difficulty. He was always upbeat regardless of circumstances.”</p>
<p>Mark Eidem (Ski Team/Club) said Kurt was “…a kind friend who always had a smile. Yet, I also recall the strong work ethic required to be a cross country skier and his competitive spirit. As a plebe with little ski-jumping experience, Kurt went to Bear Mountain to jump the much bigger hill there. The in-run was carved out of solid rock...A fall on the in-run would result in a trip to either the emergency room or morgue. The takeoff was 15 feet in the air and a jumper had to clear a 65-foot road to get to the landing hill. Kurt walked up the hill, up the in-run and there was no turning back. That was panache!”</p>
<p>Dennis Szydloski remembers Kurt from H-2: “He had this lime green Fiat X1/9 with a removable top. I got to ride in it once, with the top off, coming back from...Newburgh with some other H-2ers. I had had a few drinks and sans seatbelt rode over the crest of Storm King standing up. Kurt had not been drinking and was not amused. That was my only ride in Kurt’s X1/9.”</p>
<p>Chris Shepherd had a crazy firstie ski trip story: “It was a long weekend, so Kurt, three yearlings from the Ski Patrol, and Chris piled into his car and headed to Vermont. There was not a spare cubic inch in the car. Five cadets in four seats, five sets of skis, boots, poles, and bags of extra clothes.”</p>
<p>Kurt was Paul Jacobsmeyer’s last H-2 roommate. Paul remembered him as “kind, engaging, and keenly intent on being a good cadet and a good Armor officer. I know he succeeded in the former, and our classmates’ testimonies show he succeeded in the latter.”</p>
<p>After graduation, John Londa shared an apartment with Kurt during the Armor Officer Basic Course. “Kurt showed up driving a Fiat X1/9 two-seater…For me, this mid-engine roadster was a perfect choice as it highlighted a little of the quirkiness that Kurt had with his upbeat personality. We enjoyed ourselves immensely during AOB. Kurt always struck me as a kind, generous, fun-loving guy. I truly feel privileged to have served with such an outstanding gentleman.”</p>
<p>Dennis Donovan “didn’t know Kurt at West Point, but he was the first to welcome me when I arrived at the 2-33rd Armor Regiment (“Iron Tigers”), Kirch-goens, FRG in March 1979. We served together as platoon leaders in A Co. Later, Kurt graciously made the out-of-the-way trip to Elk Point, SD to be in the honor guard at my wedding. Kurt will be remembered forever for his self-effacing and sometimes odd sense of humor. He was loyal to a fault and could always be counted on to lift up others, even when he was facing his own struggles. I was blessed to have him as a friend and brother-in-arms.”</p>
<p>While Kurt was in Germany, he contracted type 1 diabetes but convinced the medical board to let him stay on active duty.</p>
<p>After Germany, Kurt went back to Fort Knox, KY for AOAC. Tom Hayes recalls: “Kurt got me into running 10K’s when we were at the advanced course at Fort Knox. He stayed with us for a few days when our son was born in July 1982. Fond memories of a great guy for sure.”</p>
<p>Kurt went to Korea after graduation and commanded C Company, 1-72nd Armor Regiment (1983-84), was an associate professor of military science at the University of Minnesota (1984-87), and went back to Fort Knox in 1987 as a member of the Armor and Engineer Board. </p>
<p>Eventually Kurt’s diabetes got worse, and he had to leave the Army in 1989. He got his B.S./B.A. degree from University of Louisville and worked as a consultant for Loral Aerospace in 1991, a senior training analyst for Star Mountain, Inc. in 1995, and became an independent consultant in 2000. </p>
<p>Kurt met Mary MacArthur at a golf course in Sarasota, FL, and they married on June 12, 1999. The couple enjoyed living in the country with 16 acres for horses and a large garden. One of Kurt’s hobbies was a large train project. He also was a council member at St. Armand’s Lutheran Church. Kurt and Mary loved traveling, especially to Germany during Oktoberfest.</p>
<p>Sadly, Kurt passed away on July 16, 2021 and was buried in Sarasota National Cemetery. Reflecting on Kurt’s life, Mary said: “He was a true and loyal friend, loved by his Army buddies. And loved by me.”</p>
<p><em>— Mike Tobin, Mary MacArthur and classmates</em></p>
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