Kurt Odegard

New Ulm Kurt Odegard, 50, of New Ulm, died Saturday, May 30, 2009 near Hanska, the result of a motor vehicle accident.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 4 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Ulm with Pastor Timothy Anderson officiating. The New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard will provide military honors immediately following the service at the church. Burial will follow in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery near Hanska.

Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Schmucker Funeral Service in New Ulm and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Kurt Peter Odegard, the son of Peter and Beatrice (Vee) Odegard, was born July 1, 1958 in New Ulm. After his father's death in 1958, his mother married Robert Schwingler, who raised Kurt as his own son. The family moved to Petaluma, California, where Kurt attended school. After returning to New Ulm with his family, he attended New Ulm High School. Following his graduation in 1976, Kurt attended Canby Vo-Tech. He entered the United States Army April 29, 1980 and received his honorable discharge in 1982. He was united in marriage to Karen Hansen on September 18, 1982 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. They made their home in Arizona for a time, returning to New Ulm in 1996. He was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Ulm where he served as a confirmation teacher for four years. Kurt was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, gardening and motorcycling. He loved spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife Karen of New Ulm; his children, Michael, Rachel and Patrick Odegard of New Ulm; parents, Beatrice and Robert Schwingler of Darwin; sister Tammy White and her husband Brad of Madelia; brother Kent Odegard and his wife Suzie of Wagga Wagga, Australia; brothers-in-law Robert Hansen and his wife Cindy of Le Sueur, Ron Hansen and his wife Joy of Nicollet; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his father, Kurt was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law Wallace and Marlene Hansen and many aunts and uncles.

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