It is with profound sadness that the family of Kurt Alexander Holmes announces his sudden passing on October 2, 2024, at his workplace near Meota, Saskatchewan at the young age of 40 years old. Kurt was born in Kindersley, Saskatchewan on September 9, 1984, and raised on the family farm south of Marengo, Saskatchewan (on the “south road”) where he attended Westcliffe School in Marengo from Kindergarten to Grade 12, graduating in 2002. Growing up on the family farm, Kurt enjoyed having many great friends and family close by. If he was not in the yard playing with his brothers, he was at the Anderson’s or Gronning’s house with his friends, or they were at his house. He always talked about how the farm at Marengo was the best place in the world to grow up.

Kurt developed an immense love for numerous sports at a young age that he played throughout his life. Whether playing baseball in Marengo or spending countless hours at the outdoor rink playing shinny with his friends, he was always interested in finding a sport to join. He enjoyed playing many school sports: basketball, volleyball, cross country and track and field which he particularly excelled at, winning zones several times. He also played on organized hockey teams in Alsask, Oyen, Kindersley and Eatonia that took him all over Western Canada where he met many lifelong friends.
Kurt loved to watch sports. He had amazing knowledge of sports and was always ready to discuss what was happening with his two favourite teams the Edmonton Oilers or the Toronto Blue Jays in addition to pretty much anything else that was happening in the sports world. He was lucky enough to had gone to Blue Jays and Oilers games over the years which was a highlight for him. Kurt also loved spending time at Loon Lake, Saskatchewan every summer, with his family and friends in addition to golfing and working out at the gym in his later years.

After graduating from Westcliffe in 2002, Kurt took courses at the University of Saskatchewan and worked at different jobs before deciding to become a Power Engineer. He attended Great Plains College in Kindersley where he achieved his certification as a Fourth Class Power Engineer which he later upgraded to Third Class in early 2020. Kurt’s first job was with Northern Blizzard Resources at their Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage Oil Plant near Plover Lake, Saskatchewan from 2014 to 2017. He moved to the Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage Oil Plant near Meota, Saskatchewan from 2017 until his passing. Kurt worked for Serafina Energy from 2017 to 2022 and then for Strathcona Resources from 2022 until 2024 (after Strathcona purchased Serafina in 2022). He took a lot of pride in and really enjoyed his work and cherished the camaraderie with his co-workers over the years.

In early 2022, Kurt’s life changed significantly when he started dating Kara Blackburn which resulted in a move to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in December that year, to live with Kara and her daughter Ella. In early 2024, during a family trip in Mexico, Kurt asked Kara (and Ella) to marry him. The wedding plans were in place for the summer of 2025. He was so excited about the future for his family; he had truly met the love of his life and together, they had built such a wonderful life of travel, activities together such as golfing and going to sports games and they were living life to the fullest.
Kurt had a huge heart, and he was always looking out for his dear sister Karly in addition to others that were less fortunate than him. His love for his stepdaughter Ella and nieces and nephews was undeniable as he just could not hide his joy when he was around them.  Kurt deeply loved his family and friends, and his loyalty and love will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. His memory will live on in the hearts of his loved ones.

Kurt is predeceased by his grandparents Harvey and Inez Kidd and Keith and Marge Holmes, and uncles Bob Kidd and Gary Schwab. He is survived by his fiancée Kara Blackburn, stepdaughter Ella Blackburn, parents Garnet and Rhonda Holmes, sister Karly Holmes, brother Kyle (Amy) Holmes, children Brooke and Brady, and brother Kendall (Nikeya) Holmes, children Krew and Rowe, and in-laws Michele and Murray Ketzmerick and Darcy and Shannon Mychan, brother in-law Devin (Richelle) Mychan, children Savi and Ali, and brother-in-law Tyler Ketzmerick, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, and countless friends that were fortunate enough to share in his life.

• Date : 2024-10-02
• Location : Prince Albert, SK