Kurt Joseph Nielsen, 68, of Fremont, California, died in Santa Clara, California, of cancer on February 20, 2026.

Kurt was born in Lowell, Massachusetts to Alf A. Nielsen and Mary A. Nielsen.  He attended Sargent School in Westford, Massachusetts, and graduated from Nashoba Technical High School in Westford, Massachusetts, in 1976.

Kurt was preceded in death by his father Alf Nielsen in 1989 and his mother Mary Nielsen in 2002. He is survived by his life partner Kamyl Villanueva of Fremont, California, his brother Dennis Nielsen (Gloria Nielsen) of Glendale, Arizona, his sister Patricia Filiatrault (Lucien Filiatrault) of Windham, New Hampshire, his nieces Danielle Filiatrault of Westford, Massachusetts, and Renee Langone of Dracut, Massachusetts, nephew Eric Filiatrault of Nashua, New Hampshire, nephews Derek Nielsen of Phoenix, Arizona, and Jason Nielsen of San Diego, California. He leaves behind many loved cousins in New England, New York, California, and Nevada.

Kurt was trained in industrial electronics and traveled the world training customers in the application and expertise of his products.  During his travels in Europe he became enamored with foreign cars and bought his first Porsche in Norway.

Although he traveled far and wide, his passion for life in Massachusetts never waned. He was an avid follower of all the Boston sports teams. He even convinced his beloved Kamyl to become a New England sports fan. It didn't end there, either. From time to time he would have unique New England food products mailed to him. Whenever he visited Massachusetts, he never missed a stop at Kimball's Farm (ice cream) in Westford. You could call him a displaced New Englander.

Kurt was an active member of St Mary's Catholic Church in Los Gatos, California.  He will be missed by many parishioners.

A memorial service for Kurt will be held at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, 107 North Main St., Westford, MA, on May 2, 2026, at 9 a.m. with burial at 10:15 a.m. at St. Catherine's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the American Cancer Society.