Kevin Michael Hess
If there was a problem to solve or a laugh to be had, Kevin Michael Hess was the man for the job. Born on October 17, 1979, Kevin passed away at the age of 46 on January 24, 2026, after a courageous battle with brain cancer, leaving the world a little quieter and significantly less happy.
Family—including the friends he considered family—was life’s greatest gift to Kevin. He is survived by his devoted parents, Steven and Sandra (Baudry) Hess; his siblings, Lori (Brian) Veley, Lisa (Shane) Pieper, Brian (Nicole) Hess, and Katie (Tucker) Burr; and his ten beloved nieces and nephews: Jake, Samantha, and Molly Veley; Kylie, Kendall, and Carson Pieper; Clayton and Brock Hess; and Landry and Harlie Burr. As “Uncle Kevin,” he was a constant presence and trusted mentor, giving his nieces and nephews his full attention, unconditional love, and encouragement to step confidently into the world.
Kevin grew up in Fond du Lac and graduated from L.P. Goodrich High School in 1998, where he proudly served as President of the Student Council. After high school, he spent three summers caddying at Whistling Straits while attending college. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business (Operations) from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Milwaukee became his lifelong home, where he built a successful career and an expansive, devoted circle of friends.
Professionally, Kevin enjoyed a remarkable career in Quality Management. He traveled the world developing suppliers who were instantly drawn to his passion for process improvement. His ability to forge lasting relationships through his curiosity about the people and their culture brought the team together. No challenge was ever too complex—he believed respect, collaboration, and laughter were the keys to solving anything.
Kevin’s personality was truly one of a kind. His humor, charm, and magnetic presence earned him the unofficial title of “Captain of the Fun Committee.” To Kevin, friendship wasn’t selective or exclusive, but expansive, and wherever he went, people felt they belonged. He had friends everywhere he went and a rare gift for making people feel like their best selves. Kevin created memories that will be shared for years to come.
Kevin loved sports and played both golf and football in high school. He was a devoted fan of the Brewers, Packers, and Bucks—teams that will surely miss his boundless energy. His passion was most evident in the boisterous enthusiasm he showed from the stands at his nieces’ and nephews’ games. Kevin also loved friendly competition, inventing games, and spontaneous moments on camera, and he would never turn down a game of cribbage.
Kevin treasured his time with outdoor activities, hunting, and fishing. As an avid fisherman, Kevin spent his summers with his P-Dock family at McKinley Marina on Lake Michigan. There, Kevin led countless trips as Captain of his fishing boat. Throughout summer and fall, Kevin could be found at Buckhaven, his cabin in northern WI where he hosted friends and joined family through all sorts of leisure activities and a little bit of hunting. These daily adventures always ended with Kevin commanding the grill or leading the campfire stories. These were special places that will forever hold his spirit.
Kevin was preceded in death by his grandparents, Warren and Virginia (Fox) Hess and Alden and Arlene (Taft) Baudry, and his aunt Sharon Baudry.
Kevin’s family extends heartfelt thanks to all who supported him during his journey. As Kevin would say, “You are awesome!”
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church in Fond du Lac on Saturday, January 31, at 11 a.m. with visitation from 9-11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Brain Tumor Society and Aurora Health at Home Hospice.
Online condolences can be shared at zacherlfuneralhome.com.