From Korte: As a kid, Curt Horstmann was never a big fan of school — or libraries.
“I just didn’t like books.”
The irony isn’t lost on him, a member of The Korte Company’s Diversified Operations Group and the man in charge of an ongoing renovation of the Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library in Highland.
As a kid, Curt could never sit still — a trait he still hasn’t outgrown. And while he visited the library here and there during childhood, what he does there now is much more fitting of a man who prefers working with his hands.
Starting in the early 2000’s, he led the historical library’s remodel piece by piece, restoring it to its 1920s charm with some 21st-century upgrades.
So far, outdoor work has consisted of cleaning and sealing masonry, some tuckpointing, new windows, and a roof replacement. Inside, main floor drab ancient carpets and dirty ceiling tiles were replaced, modern LED lighting installed, and the library also pitched in by adding a new coat of white paint for a fresh, crisp look.
There’s still more work to be done, of course. But Curt’s eager to do it because he’s got a front-row seat to a local institution whose infrastructure and programming keep up with the needs of its community. And that deep sense of community stems from his own roots, both as a Highland local and a kid who grew up in the construction industry.
“I pretty much watched and observed everything. My dad and brothers were carpenters, my one brother did a little electrical, my other brother did some plumbing. I was watching all that and realized: I can do that, and I like to do it.”
From one family company to another
“For me, school was a challenge. I did not like sitting and that’s what you do in school. I couldn’t wait for the day to be over, to get out and ride my bike or run or go to the neighbors or build something. I’d rather be working with my hands, which is still the case.”
Blame it on his parents — especially his dad, Vince, who owned Highland Ready Mix and supplied concrete for many of Ralph Korte’s early jobs. He also ran the residential construction company where Curt’s brother-in-law and brothers, including Dale and Gary Horstmann, worked.
After graduating from Highland High in 1978, he never looked back.
“Unless you call working with my dad, brothers and cousin, and all that ‘trade school,’ I learned most from who I worked with. And I’m still learning from the people I work with.”
At first, Curt just loved the physicality of construction, but he quickly grew to appreciate the satisfaction of seeing his own work in every finished project, too. And when things got a little slow at Horstmann Construction, Curt picked up work from Highland locals Sunny Emig and Louis Renko — two men who made a deep impression on him as an impressionable young builder.
“They’re both retired now, but it was a big part of my life to work for them. I learned a lot from those people about quality, and I still look up to them.”
Back then, he was still working in residential construction, building nicer and nicer homes. But his work caught the attention of other builders in the community, including The Korte Company’s David Lammers, who led the Special Services crew.
“He said, ‘Hey, we’re looking. If you’re interested, just let me know.’ And that was the end. I immediately came.”
Curt was 33 at the time. Thirty years later, he’s still here.