| Graduation Year | Class of 1971 |
| Date of Passing | Jan 31, 2010 |
| About | Kurt Precourt Taecker Naperville IL United States Kurt Precourt Taecker Kurt Precourt Taecker passed away on January 31, 2010, at age 56. He will be missed by his large community of friends and family. Kurt was born on October 22, 1953. Kurt grew up in Naperville, which at that time was a small town. For a few years, his father, Rollin's, career took him abroad, including one year in France and two years in Austria, where he graduated from Vienna's American International School. After high school, Kurt entered the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he enrolled in pre-med classes and aspired to be a doctor. During his sophomore year, however, Kurt became acutely ill with schizophrenia a biochemical disease that made regular employment impossible. Kurt bore his illness bravely. He was a prolific artist, whose oil-on-canvas "studies in light and color" appeared in art exhibitions, in the lobbies of corporations, and on the covers of medical journals. He was also an award-winning musician. Kurt was a founder and a board director for The Awakenings Project, an organization that encourages the creative energy of persons with mental illness, who work in fine art, music, literature, and drama. Kurt gave loving support to several organizations and social groups for individuals and families challenged by psychiatric disease. Kurt's was gentle, thoughtful and devoted. In addition to a wide circle of friends, Kurt is survived by two brothers, Kevin Taecker of Washington DC and Matt Taecker of Berkeley CA, his sisters-in-law, and by five nieces and nephews - including Alyssa Taecker of Naperville. Kurt is preceded in death by his parents, Patricia and Rollin Taecker, and by his niece, Rachel. A memorial will be held for Kurt on Sunday, February 14, at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 South Washington Street in Naperville. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m, followed by a service at 10:00 a.m. and burial at Naperville Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Kurt can be remembered through tax-deductible donations to: NAMI DuPage (a chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), 2100 Manchester Road, Suite B-925, Wheaton IL 60187; or The Awakenings Project (an art and literature program harnessing the creativity of persons with mental illness), P.O. Box 177, Wheaton, IL 60187. http://www.awakeningsproject.org/galleries/taecker_k.shtml Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home 516 S. Washington St. Naperville, IL 60540 Info: 630-355-0264 www.beidelmankunschfh.com Naperville Sun, The (IL) - Friday, February 5, 2010 |
