Kurt Edward Hoagland (72) passed away peacefully in Hospice at Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  He was lovingly surrounded by his spouse, children and grandchildren during his journey.

Kurt was born into an Air Force family in Springfield, Illinois on February 27, 1952. In Kurt's younger years the family moved to Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, Alabama where Kurt developed a deep love of fishing and was an avid fisherman his entire life. After he turned seven, the family moved to the U.S. Air Force Base Wembley, England for three years where he developed an intense interest in history.  His bookshelves full of Civil War, World I, and World War II non-fiction historical books are a testament to his love of history. The family lived in Wright-Petterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio for a short period of time before his father retired from the military. He lived in Custer for two years and the remainder of his childhood was in Pierre, South Dakota where Kurt graduated from high school in 1970.

Kurt joined the U.S. Army, after attending the South Dakota State University for a year, where he served three years in Giessen and Bremerhaven, Germany.  After his service in the US Army, he moved back to Pierre, transitioned into the South Dakota Army National Guard while owning and operating a local business. Kurt graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of South Dakota in 1992 in the Drug and Alcohol field and immediately became a Certified Counselor. He was employed as a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor with the Veterans Administration his entire professional career until retirement in 2015.

He met and married Karen Ann Huls from Ft. Pierre, South Dakota from 1978-1988.  From this union, Tanya M. (Hoagland) Hardiman and Eric S. Hoagland were born.

In 1996, Kurt married Jeannie Ann (Eilmes) Meyer from Centerville, South Dakota.  He became a father to Rob E. Meyer; Regina E. Meyer; Ronald E. Meyer; and Randale E. Meyer. During their 28-year marriage they lived and worked in Sturgis, South Dakota; Savannah, Georgia; Omaha, Nebraska; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Kurt graduated from Officer Candidate School; Company Size Unit Commanders Course; Signal Officer Advanced Course; Cannon Field Artillery Officer; NBC Defense Officer Course; and Assistant Chemical Officer. His honors included a Leadership Award, Honor Graduate, Judo Champion, Hometown Recruiter, First Place in Winter Scuba Diving and Spearfishing Championships; Army Achievement Medal, 1985, 1988; Army Commendation Medal, 1984, 1987, Distinguished Service Ribbon; and Distinguished Unit Ribbon holding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Award; National Defense Service Medal, Expert Rifle M16; Honor Graduate Field Artillery Leadership Award; Outstanding Graduate Award.

Kurt loved all his children and grandchildren—enjoying the time teaching them manners and appropriate behaviors.  He was always the chauffer during family activities with the grandchildren and he loved teaching each how to fish.  He truly loved fishing.  When by himself he would sit in the boat, soak up the sunshine, and drift down the river as he checked his set lines for catfish, all while reading a non-fiction history book in his spare time.  He volunteered at Scandia Lutheran Church, especially in the kitchen, and attended the South Dakota Symphony.  He enjoyed his "retirement job" working at the Mid-Aquatic Center in Sioux Falls so he could work early in the morning and have the rest of the day to check out rummage sales, see what was going on at Walmart, helping the neighbors, reviewing cookbooks, grocery shopping, and cooking. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of touring Alaska and the Yukon last summer and genuinely enjoyed the adventure.

Preceding him in death are his parents Edward and Irene Hoagland; Brother-in-law (Frank Kripal). Kurt is survived by his wife, Jeannie Meyer Hoagland; his children, Rob (Michelle) Meyer, Centerville, SD; Regina (Lee) Barrows, Centerville, SD; Tanya Hardiman, Omaha, NE; Ronald (Pattie) Meyer, Centerville, SD; Eric (Amy) Hoagland, St. Cloud, MN; and Randale (Sarah) Meyer, Webster City, IA, 20 Grandchildren and 10 Great-Grandchildren, sister (Winona Kripal); sister (Victoria Brooks); brother (Brock Hoagland); sister (Monica Hoagland), and Kurt's beloved schnauzer, Heidi.