Harold Joseph Kuczwara

Born Nov. 10, 1952, in Melrose Park, IL. to Donald and Hanna Kuczwara, Hal was the second of seven children. He was a husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, son, brother, nephew, uncle and friend. Hal is survived by his wife, Joanie Kuczwara of Arvada, with whom he joyfully shared the past 35 years; sons, Casey Fleming-Kuczwara of Arvada and Galen Fleming-Kuczwara of Denver; stepchildren Kelly Raab (Mike) of Centennial, Libby Nordeen (Jeff) of Littleton, and Brian Scott (Kimberly) of Garland, Texas; and grandchildren Calvin and Josie Raab, Gabriel Mueller, and Micah and Sadie Scott.

Hal was a lifelong student who took every opportunity to learn something new. He completed two masters’ degrees at the University of Colorado-Boulder and was ABD in his doctoral program at the University of Colorado-Denver.

Hal’s stroke in 2012 ended his pursuit of a Ph.D. in Education, but that didn’t mean he stopped learning. When Hal could no longer make, repair or play his guitars, professional musician Clayton Kirkland graciously taught him to play harmonica. Being confined to a wheelchair, Hal took advantage of books, books and more books, and music, music and more music. He dearly beloved his two big dogs, brothers Ben and Jerry.

Rather than saying ‘goodbye’l whenever Hal and Joanie parted, they channeled A. A. Milne’s Tigger with TTFN — “Ta Ta For Now” — meaning they’d be apart only for a short time.

A celebration of Hal’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2100 Wadsworth Blvd., in Lakewood. A reception will follow at the church.

A military burial at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., in Denver, will be at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

Remembrances may be made to Children’s Hospital Colorado at www.childrenscolorado.org