Kurt Elliott Utley, age 98, went to be with his Lord on October 2nd, 2026. Kurt was born in Lexington, Michigan in 1928, the son of farmers. He joined the navy in 1946, after high school, being trained as a radar technician at Pearl Harbor Naval Base. After his service, he attended Michigan State University where he met his great love and wife, Phyllis. After graduating, Kurt went on to graduate school at MSU, where he earned his Master's in Electrical Engineering before going to work as an aeronautical engineer in New Jersey and Massachusetts. Kurt helped to develop the AWACS radar system for use in national security, as well as travelling the world to train allies in how to use the AWACS system. He also worked in the space program helping to develop the Lunar Landing Module. He and Phyllis started a family and laid the seeds for local churches to spring up in their area. After retirement he and Phyllis returned to Michigan to be closer to family. In his retirement he devoted himself to his lifelong curiosity, spending time with his children and grandchildren and helping them foster and grow that same curiosity. Kurt was an avid reader, a lover of music and art, and a devout Christian, working to spread the love of God through Calvary Church's Prison Ministry as well as other ministries. Faith and knowledge pervaded every aspect of Kurt's life and he served as a missionary for both God and the arts by being an active member of small groups at Calvary Church as well as a member of museums like Frederick Meijer Gardens. He was an explorer, a craftsman, a storyteller, and a mentor to many. He will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his wife Phyllis, daughter Rebecca, his parents Blanche and Wilbur, sisters Helen and Audrey, brother Hubert. He is survived and remembered by his sister Jo, children Craig Utley (Judith); Lisa Palazzolo (Steven); and Wendy Balivet; his grandchildren Christopher, Daniel, Victoria, Genevieve, and Giselle and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Kurt's life will be held in April 2027 with details upcoming.