Kurt Karl Eichorst

Kurt K. Eichorst, 76, of Niceville went to be with the Lord on June 19, 2019. He was born on May 23, 1943 in South Bend, IN to the late Sherman & Shirley Eichorst.  Kurt fought a courageous 16-month battle of Glioblastoma, a fast growing brain cancer.  His faith in the Lord never wavered and he never gave up, he didn’t let the disease define who he was and fought till the bitter end. 

Kurt grew up the youngest brother of Doug and Brad, lettering in football, baseball, basketball, track & wrestling in high school.  Upon graduation, he joined the US Navy Reserves, attending the US Navy Academy Prep School (NAAPS), participating in football. He went on to Ball State, played football until injuries forced him into track, where he threw the shot put and discus. Kurt commanded the student AF ROTC, served as president of the Theta Chi fraternity, graduating with Blue Key Honors and earning a regular commission in the US Air Force in 1966.

Kurt spent 22 years in the AF as a navigator and bombardier in the B-52 and the F-4 with two tours in SEA, and another tour in Korea. He attended the AF Institute of Technology, earning a second Bachelor’s in Physics Optics and a Master’s in Laser Optics.  He crewed as a Weapons Systems Officer in the F-4 at Eglin AFB as a system/test engineer conducting Developmental Testing of AF Weapons Systems.  After retirement he joined Sverdrup Technology/Jacobs Engineering as a system engineer for 18 years, where he was instrumental in the installation and testing of the Air Combat Training System of aircrews in Alaska, retiring in 2006.

Kurt attended Crosspoint Methodist Church where he met and married the love of his life, Janice (Roberts) Coffield.  He loved going to the Niceville football games along with basketball and baseball games at NWFSC. He enjoyed helping others, exercising and fulfilling hi “Honey Do” list for Jan.  He could build anything, fix anything and loved a challenge.  Kurt was blessed with a very generous and forgiving heart along with his faith in his Lord and Savior.

Kurt was preceded in death by his parents and the mother of his children.  He leaves behind with cherished memories, his loving wife, Jan of 27 years; children, Thad, Lisa, and Lynn; 6 grandchildren and his mother-in-law, Catherine Roberts, who lived with them 10 years until his diagnosis. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Crosspoint Methodist on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 11:00 am with a reception following.  In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to the

Alabama-West Florida Asbury Foundation, 3027 Fellowship Lane, Pace, FL 32571; Northwest Florida State College Kurt Eichorst Scholarship, 100 College Boulevard East, Niceville, FL 32578; or Children in Crisis in Kurt’s name, 1000 Luke's Way, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547. 

Interment will be in Barrancas National Cemetery at a later date.

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