York Stefan Kielnecker

York was born May 25, 1964 in Los Angeles, California to Rolf Kielnecker and Helga (Fisher) Kielnecker. York grew up in Santa Monica and was an avid surfer and skateboarder. He loved telling stories of his younger years, about him and his best friends, Joe and Paul; surfing every day at the now gone but famous, Santa Monica pier. Even though younger than the original Lords of Dogtown, the three could often be found skateboarding in empty pools around the neighborhood! From around age 12 he started working at his father’s Alfa Romeo Dealership, thus developing a love of fast and exotic cars.

Following high school, he traveled often. He visited places in Germany, catching up with family and friends--once venturing off alone to visit Prague. He moved to San Francisco, and eventually purchased land and moved to Orcus Island, WA. After the loss of a close friend and mentor, York decided to go to A&P (Airline and Powertrain) School. His professional carrier, as an Aircraft Mechanic, led him to obtain his Pilot’s license and his designation as a licensed A&P and an IA (Authorized Inspector).

York moved to Colorado in 1997, leaving his home in Washington. A motorcycle enthusiast he took time to venture the open road for extended amounts of time. It was that love of travel that bought him to visit friends in Ft Collins and eventually settling in Colorado. Here he joined Executive Air in Broomfield, as an Aircraft Mechanic. It was then that he met his future wife, Christina (Lovato) Kielnecker. They were married in Cancun on May 30th, 2005.

He soon went out on his own and was co-owner of Mountain Air Aviation from 2001-2008 at Rocky Mountain Airport. Following this, he worked with Beegels Aircraft in Greeley recovering crashed airplanes from around the country. York finally started his own independent contracting company; York Airmotive. His unique ability and skills as a sheet metal fabricator lead him to his most loved passion—race cars. While sheet metal work is often thought of as only associated with aircraft restoration, York was contracted by RaceKraft and Design, where he fulfilled his dream of working on high end race cars. There he participated in a project designing and implementing modifications for Furniture Row Racing to modify a NASCAR race car that travels throughout the country giving Wounded Warriors the ability to drive an actual race car or ride along with one of their favorite drivers. Most recently, York contracted for Pilatus Aircraft Manufacturing in Broomfield.

York’s car passion actually led him to race cars competitively He was an active member of the Z Club, Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing and Nostalgia Racing.

York’s love of life, family and friends will be missed deeply by all those he touched.

Surviving are his wife, Christina and son Jordan of Longmont; his parents of Ruidoso, New Mexico; a brother Timo (Romi) Kielnecker of Boston; sisters in law, Kathy Lovato (Joe Crookston) of Denver, Toni (Steven) Mondragon of Denver and Brenda Lovato (Mark Merritt) of Colorado Springs and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A cremation has been entrusted to Howe Mortuary and Cremation Services.

Services will be held at 1:30 pm, Friday, December 11, at the Howe Mortuary Chapel; reception to follow at the Moose Lodge-Longmont.

Please share your thoughts, condolences and memories with the family at www.howemortuary.com