Lawrence Kuebrich

LAWRENCE J. KUEBRICH

Longmont, Colo.

Lawrence "Larry" J. Kuebrich, 79, of Longmont, Colo., peacefully passed away from respiratory failure at Longmont United Hospital on June 22, 2017.

Larry was born Dec. 9, 1937, the son of Leonard W. and Alice E. (Meade) Kuebrich of rural Tiffin, Iowa. He married Virginia Scheetz in 1957. Larry's parents and grandparents had deep roots in the Cosgrove community. In his early years, Larry worked with his dad and uncle, Thomas Meade, on the family farm. Leonard passed away at a young age of 56 in 1967, and Larry left the family farm shortly thereafter in 1970. He worked in the construction industry for a time until discovering his love of aviation, which led him to become a flight instructor at Green Castle Airport in Iowa. He moved to Greeley, Colo., in 1988, then to Longmont in 1991, where he started Air West Flight Center Inc., working seven days a week for 23 years.

Through his love of flying, he formed lifelong friendships with kindred spirits and fellow pilots. Even after retirement, he continued to enjoy coffee with the boys club at the airport; sitting on the flight deck, watching planes and shooting the breeze.

The family received numerous heartfelt condolences and shared memories from his flight students, business colleagues and members of his airport family.

In addition to aviation, his passions in life included family, farm tractors and his cabin home in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Larry enjoyed nothing more than his family gatherings at the cabin. He loved to talk sports with his grandsons, Chris, Nick and Dan, and Larry was famous for putting on feasts of steaks and spuds. These mountain cabin evenings often ended with the boys cranking his antique churn to make homemade ice cream.

He is survived by his children, Charles "Chuck" (Susie) Kuebrich and Kimberly Kuebrich Yordi; and a brother, Charles "Terry" (Marge) Kuebrich.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A small private family service will take place and Larry will be laid to rest at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Cosgrove.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the Longmont United Hospital ICU staff, specifically Dr. Charles Van Hook and Dr. Richard Halterman.