Steven Joseph Kurth
10/5/1961 – 11/20/2020
10/5/1961 – 11/20/2020
Everybody that met him, remembered him. Everybody that met him, felt love from him. Those of us that loved him, miss him dearly already. Rooms will be quieter; hearts will be heavier. We carry on with a little bit of his jovial spirit with us each and every day. We ask that all that knew him, raise a glass to toast him and share a laugh of a fun Steve memory to cherish.
Steve, who had recently celebrated his 59th birthday, passed away suddenly on November 20, 2020. He was born in Le Mars, Iowa to Joseph Kurth and Mary (Kurth) Mordino. In 1969, Steve moved with his family to Scottsdale, Arizona where he spent the rest of his adventurous life. From an early age, Steve was always authentically himself and led his life boldly on his own terms. Not only was he big in stature but big in personality, in heart, in humor, kindness and even in chaos.
At the age of 2, Steve discovered his first screwdriver and removed a kitchen cabinet door. From that point on his love for building and creating took off. One of his early jobs was with Kuhl’s Electric and by the age of 16, he was a foreman running a crew. His love for construction & creating unique spaces continued throughout his life. His homes were always under construction and anytime you visited, you were always inspired by his creativity and craftsmanship. Even his dogs were amazed the year he built them doggie bunk beds.
Steve crafted a career in working for himself and started his first business in his early 20s. Over his career, we estimate he built 836 homes or more throughout the valley. He had such a unique ability to problem solve in a creative way. He could see a vision that few could and had the passion and tenacity to bring things to life. Steve was all about action and lived by the motto of asking for forgiveness instead of permission.
He took his role as a big brother seriously. He always wanted to teach his younger three siblings new things and would protect them fiercely. Family meant a lot to Steve. This was amplified when he married young and he and his first wife, Kay (Gahagan) Kurth, welcomed their two children, Jill and Tony. Steve was a dedicated father and took great pride in his kid’s early accomplishment on the sports fields and seeing them excel in their professions as adults. He did not realize his heart could open even more when he became a grandparent 8 years ago with the arrival of Ben followed two years later by Emma. We know he experienced great joy during his final summer as he spent many hours and much laughter at the lake with his grandkids.
Anyone that met Steve, remembered Steve. He had a natural sense of humor and took great joy in making others laugh. He had many hobbies and adventures over the years from being a young athlete with baseball and football to being an avid adult hiker completing 12 rim to rim Grand Canyon hikes. He loved boating, ATVing, snow skiing, travel and just being Steve. He really loved building things and creating things in all aspects of his life. He had a heart to help people in need and was very involved in his church, which he helped to expand in two separate building projects. He loved God and was committed to bettering himself through the teachings of scripture.
Steve is survived by his daughter Jill Kurth and son Tony (Katie) Kurth both of Phoenix, Arizona; his grandson Ben Kurth and granddaughter Emma Kurth; his former wife Kay (Gahagan) Kurth; his former wife Bonnie Kurth; his current partner Theresa Inselman; his parents Joseph (Joann) Kurth of Highland Ranch, Colorado and Mary (Domenic) Mordino of Phoenix, Arizona; his brother Jeff (Michelle) Kurth of Phoenix, Arizona; his sister Mary Jo (Tony) Arteaga of Orange County, California; his sister Sheryl Alstrin of Portland, Oregon; his half-sister Celeste Goodrich of Lebanon, Missouri; his three nieces and two nephews; and so very many loving cousins, aunts and uncles.
Steve, who had recently celebrated his 59th birthday, passed away suddenly on November 20, 2020. He was born in Le Mars, Iowa to Joseph Kurth and Mary (Kurth) Mordino. In 1969, Steve moved with his family to Scottsdale, Arizona where he spent the rest of his adventurous life. From an early age, Steve was always authentically himself and led his life boldly on his own terms. Not only was he big in stature but big in personality, in heart, in humor, kindness and even in chaos.
At the age of 2, Steve discovered his first screwdriver and removed a kitchen cabinet door. From that point on his love for building and creating took off. One of his early jobs was with Kuhl’s Electric and by the age of 16, he was a foreman running a crew. His love for construction & creating unique spaces continued throughout his life. His homes were always under construction and anytime you visited, you were always inspired by his creativity and craftsmanship. Even his dogs were amazed the year he built them doggie bunk beds.
Steve crafted a career in working for himself and started his first business in his early 20s. Over his career, we estimate he built 836 homes or more throughout the valley. He had such a unique ability to problem solve in a creative way. He could see a vision that few could and had the passion and tenacity to bring things to life. Steve was all about action and lived by the motto of asking for forgiveness instead of permission.
He took his role as a big brother seriously. He always wanted to teach his younger three siblings new things and would protect them fiercely. Family meant a lot to Steve. This was amplified when he married young and he and his first wife, Kay (Gahagan) Kurth, welcomed their two children, Jill and Tony. Steve was a dedicated father and took great pride in his kid’s early accomplishment on the sports fields and seeing them excel in their professions as adults. He did not realize his heart could open even more when he became a grandparent 8 years ago with the arrival of Ben followed two years later by Emma. We know he experienced great joy during his final summer as he spent many hours and much laughter at the lake with his grandkids.
Anyone that met Steve, remembered Steve. He had a natural sense of humor and took great joy in making others laugh. He had many hobbies and adventures over the years from being a young athlete with baseball and football to being an avid adult hiker completing 12 rim to rim Grand Canyon hikes. He loved boating, ATVing, snow skiing, travel and just being Steve. He really loved building things and creating things in all aspects of his life. He had a heart to help people in need and was very involved in his church, which he helped to expand in two separate building projects. He loved God and was committed to bettering himself through the teachings of scripture.
Steve is survived by his daughter Jill Kurth and son Tony (Katie) Kurth both of Phoenix, Arizona; his grandson Ben Kurth and granddaughter Emma Kurth; his former wife Kay (Gahagan) Kurth; his former wife Bonnie Kurth; his current partner Theresa Inselman; his parents Joseph (Joann) Kurth of Highland Ranch, Colorado and Mary (Domenic) Mordino of Phoenix, Arizona; his brother Jeff (Michelle) Kurth of Phoenix, Arizona; his sister Mary Jo (Tony) Arteaga of Orange County, California; his sister Sheryl Alstrin of Portland, Oregon; his half-sister Celeste Goodrich of Lebanon, Missouri; his three nieces and two nephews; and so very many loving cousins, aunts and uncles.
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