Kurt Wayne Drotleff

Kurt Wayne Drotleff, age 47, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. A beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, Kurt is survived by his loving wife, Lauren Drotleff (nee Counts); children, Henry and Caroline Drotleff; sister, Diane Drotleff-Alicie (B. Alicie); mother and father-in-law, Mary Jo and Jeff Fishwick; as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. Kurt was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Shirley Drotleff.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati DAAP program (Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning), where he was also a proud member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, Kurt crafted a career encompassing both his love of automobiles and his keen artistic abilities, working for various companies including his last position with Cummins in Florence, KY. A lifelong member of the S.C.C.A. (Sports Car Club of America), Kurt spent countless hours working on his 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass, as well as his pride and joy, the 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible he inherited from his father. Attending and working on his father’s pit crew during countless S.C.C.A. races was a pastime Kurt relished from his teen years onward.

Kurt loved both visual and performing arts. The son of a music teacher, he and his sister grew up surrounded by their mother’s singing and piano playing, and he learned to appreciate all kinds of music from a very young age. Whether it was 1940s big band, 1970s and 80s rock, or a classical Mozart Sonata, Kurt believed that music made life better, and he tried to share that love with as many people as possible, often taking his mother or his wife’s beloved grandma Gigi to classical concerts.

Kurt and his beautiful wife Lauren were married on May 16, 2016, in Burlington, KY. Kurt waited a long time to find a woman as special and loving as Lauren, and out of this union, two amazing kids were born - Henry, in 2018, and Caroline, in 2020. Kurt was devoted to his family and spent as much free time as possible engaging in activities with Lauren and their kids, including vacationing in Fort Myers, Florida, with Lauren’s parents, as well as frequent trips to the Cincinnati Museum Center and other local attractions.

A cherished husband, father, son, brother, and friend, Kurt’s impact on so many lives cannot be understated, and we are all better for having known and been loved by him. He will be forever missed.

Family will receive friends and loved ones for visitation on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Florence Methodist Church, 8585 Old Toll Rd, Florence, KY from 9:30 AM until the Funeral Service begins at 11:00 AM. Internment will immediately follow at Hopeful Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Kurt’s name can be made at https://pscpartners.org/ or https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/.