Kurt Lynn Wiese

Kurt Lynn Wiese, PhD, of New York, formerly of Springdale, Arkansas, passed away on August 3, 2026. Kurt was born on November 18, 1957, in Springdale, Arkansas, to Kenneth and Lila Wiese. From an early age, he was known for his brilliant mind, remarkable work ethic, deep compassion for others, and strong Christian faith. Kurt was a devoted member of Salem Lutheran Church while growing up in Springdale. After leaving Arkansas in his 30s, he continued to make the Lutheran Church an important part of his life wherever he lived. His faith was more than something he professed; it was reflected in the way he lived, treated others, and faced both the successes and challenges of his life. A proud alumnus of the University of Arkansas, Kurt earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees there and went on to build a distinguished career in food science. He became a highly respected authority in food process control and thermal processing, lending his expertise to companies including Nestlé and Frito-Lay. He also served on the faculty of The Ohio State University and had the opportunity to work with NASA during his career. As accomplished as Kurt was professionally, those who knew him best remember much more than his credentials. He possessed tremendous empathy and a generous willingness to share his knowledge and experience with others. He was a gifted teacher and mentor who made lasting friendships throughout his career. One of those friendships was with his longtime colleague and best friend, Mark Deniston. Kurt and Mark worked together for many years, and over time their friendship grew into a bond much like that of brothers. Mark and Kurt’s colleagues through the Institute for Thermal Processing Specialists remember him as a brilliant scientist, gifted teacher, treasured friend, and a man who generously shared his knowledge, humor, and experience with the thermal-processing community. His contributions to his profession and to the people within it will not be forgotten. Kurt was also a guiding presence in the lives of his family, particularly his younger sister, Patti, and his son, Ethan. He loved deeply and cared deeply, and his intelligence was matched by a compassionate heart. Kurt also demonstrated remarkable resilience. In 2007, he successfully battled chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), achieving molecular remission. His experience strengthened his commitment to supporting cancer research and organizations working to improve the lives of those facing cancer. Kurt will be deeply missed by his son, Ethan; his sister, Patti Wiese Lehigh; his family; his many friends and colleagues; and all whose lives were touched by his friendship, knowledge, faith, humor, and kindness. A memorial service celebrating Kurt’s life will be held Friday, September 11, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale, Arkansas. Steve Unger will officiate, with family members also sharing memories of Kurt. The memorial has been scheduled in conjunction with the Springdale High School Class of 1976 reunion weekend, giving Kurt’s former classmates an opportunity to attend the service and remember their longtime friend and classmate. For those wishing to honor Kurt’s memory, memorial contributions may be made to the Kenneth and Lila Wiese Memorial Scholarship through the University of Arkansas College of Agriculture and Department of Food Science, which is being updated to include Kurt’s name; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org; or Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, at bloodcancerunited.org. Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com.

Kurt Lynn Wiese

November 18, 1957 - August 3, 2026