Kurt Carlton Fecht, LT. COLONEL-USAF-RETIRED-56, Odessa, Florida funeral service is 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Grace Family Church, 5101 Van Dyke Road, Lutz, Florida 33558. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:30 AM until service time.
A native of Freeport, Illinois, and raised in Carthage, Illinois LT. COL. Fecht was a local resident since 2014, when he moved here from Woodbridge, Virginia. LT. COL. Fecht retired from the United States Air Force in 2004 at Colorado Springs, Colorado and after his retirement, he was employed as Chief- Anti Terrorism Division for NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Services) in Washington, DC.
During his 27 years in the United States Air Force; LT. COL. served as a Security Forces Commander and a Security Forces Staff Officer. He attended the US Army War College; Air War College; Joint Air Command and Staff College; Squadron Officer School and the Armed Forces Staff College. His awards and decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with 4 devices; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; Humanitarian Service Medal; Air Force Longevity Service Award with5 devices; National Defense Service Medal with 1 device; Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with 1 device; Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with 1 device; Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 device; Air Force Training Ribbon with 1 device; Kuwait Liberation Medal; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with 3 devices; Meritorious Unit Citation; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 5 devices and the Meritorious Unit Citation.
He attended Grace Family Church in Lutz, Florida.
LT.COL. Fecht is survived by his loving family: his wife, Cheryl Fecht of Odessa, Florida; his sons; Daniel Fecht and his wife, Tai and Joseph Fecht, all of Tampa, Florida and Ethan Fecht of Grovetown, Georgia: a daughter, Sarah Fecht of Newport News, Virginia; step daughters; Jessica Perez and her husband Anibal of Miami, Florida and Lauren Pembo and Nicole Coto and her husband, Frank, all of Tampa, Florida: a brother, Mark Stephenson of California; a sister, Linda Fecht of Carthage, Illinois; sister in law, Debbie Welch of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and six grandchildren: Ava Felder, Gabriel Perez, Landon Coto, Riley Perez, Liliana Coto and Myles Perez. LT.COL. Fecht also is survived by his good friends; Arvel and Nancy Edens of Woodbridge, Virginia and Marty and Karen Joyner of Woodbridge, Virginia; childhood friends; Matt Dickinson and his wife, Becky of Carthage, Illinois; Donna Welch Borst; Rob Carson and Pennie Plummer Fenton, all of Carthage, Illinois and the Carthage High School Class of 1977.
The family requests, that in lieu of flowers, to please make a donation to the Embracing Life Through Love, P.O. Box 160, Safety Harbor, Florida 34695 in the memory of Lt. Colonel Kurt Carlton Fecht.
Burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia in the early summer.
Veterans Funeral Care
727-524-9202
My sincerest prayers are with you and your family. May your faith and love carry you through this time.
We are so sorry to see Kurt go, but will always have fond and happy memories of the times we “hung out” with you guys. It is so sad that he was the one to have this nasty disease, but he and Cheryl handled it with Grace. Our prayers and thoughts are with you, now and always.
Ron and Ruth Smith
Dear Cheryl , so sorry for your loss ! You are in my prayers and thoughts ! God Bless you and your family in this time of sorrow . Tessie
I have heard many fond memories of Kurt’s childhood and neighborhood from my husband Rob. He was an amazing man with many prestigious honors. May he rest in peace. My deepest sympathy! Lori Carson
Prayers and heavenly Angels will surround you and family at this difficult time
Love you
Theresa Mccluskey
Cheryl, I can’t begin to express my sorrow for what you are enduring. Please remember Kurt was so very proud of you. I am honored to have known and witnessed such unconditional love the two of you shared.
You both will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Sending all my love to you. Cathy
I’m so sorry for you and your family’s loss. I will continue to keep you all in my prayers and will also continue to pray for a cure for ALS. God Bless You!
Our hearts are saddened by your loss and our thoughts and prayers are with you. Praying for friends & family to comfort you, faith to uphold you, and loving memories to help you smile. Kurt will be forever remembered and forever missed. Love you very much. Chris and Joe Manuel
Precious Cheryl, I’m so sorry beyond words for the loss of your loving husband, Kurt. It was wonderful to have had just a little time with you and Kurt. You were his angel and now he is yours. Praying for you that God will comfort your heart during this very difficult time. I love you Cheryl. Barbara Milk out and Tim Rada
Cheryl I know these last few years have been difficult. Having to watch the man you love fall pray to this dreadful disease. We are so proud of how you handled the most difficult of circumstances. You provided Kurt with the most loving and respectful care anyone could ask for. Your three daughters must be so proud of their mother. An Kurt, what a distinguished career. I am so proud to have known him. Thank you Kurt for your service and for loving my very dear friend Cheryl. There is only one place for a man of his character to be buried and that is Arlington with full military honors. He was a class act and our country,his family, and friends will miss him greatly. All my love, Barbara
Our prayers are with you and your family. We are sorry for your loss. Please know that we are here to help in any way needed.
Our sincere condolences for you and your family during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
-John and Linda Foster of Jericho Drive
Cheryl, My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of extreme sorrow. Kurt was a funny, loving and caring person and I am happy to have known him. You were both such a wonderful couple and right for each other. He will be missed.
Dear Cheryl and Family,
You have all been pillars of strength and we want you to know we share your grief and we’re here for support. You and Kurt have lived a battle of life and truly lived every day and moment with love. Kurt’s life is a legacy that will live on in all of us as a man of strength and courage and love. You don’t need to be strong anymore…Kurt’s love and spirit have taken over now to help you thru each day.
With sympathy, Judy and John Francis
Cheryl – My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family and I do hope the love and caring of your friends and family will warm your heart and lift your spirits. I was honored to know Kurt and he was obviously a wonderful husband, father and son. He will be remembered warmly and fondly by us always – and we are grateful that you kept us updated with photos of your taking Kurt to concerts, and events. You never stopped living – you were Kurt’s angel on earth. Much love, Angie and Dave
Dear Cheryl – Patty and I are so sorry that Kurt left you, his family, and all of his friends way too soon. But before he left, both of you gave so many us lasting, positive, happy memories that will have us smiling whenever we think of him and for that we are very grateful. We only need to picture him dancing at your Mardi Gras parties, boating on a warm summer weekend, or enjoying Happy Hour at Seacrets while the sun sets – and he’s right there with us again. Kurt was just one of those people that you enjoyed being around and we’ll miss him a lot. Take care and please keep in touch. Steve and Patty, Mount Airy, MD
Dearest Cheryl,
I was heartbroken to learn of your husband’s passing. May God comfort you in your sorrow and may you feel God’s loving support and blessings as you adjust to life without your beloved Kurt. I’ll be praying for you and your family during this sad time. With love, Sandra
I know this Christmas season has been hard for all of you and I want you to know that I have been thinking of all of you. Cheryl,Daniel,Joseph,Ethan & Sarah and all of Kurt’s family please know I am praying for strength to be able to get through these days and to remember all the fond memories. It has been a long time since I have seen Kurt, he will forever be in my heart. All of our childhood memories of the days when life was simple. I hope that I will get to meet all of his family one day.
Until we meet again, rest in peace my friend.