Windsor, Colorado, mourns the unexpected loss of beloved Coach, firefighter, and family man Nathaniel “Nate” R. Klimek, who unexpectedly passed away at 41 on April 28, 2025.
Nate was known for his warm smile, loud laugh, and helpful nature.
His life showed the importance of love, service, and joy. He was devoted to his family, especially his wife Katie. His story is important to the community he lived in.
Nate and Katie’s love began long before their September 5, 2011, wedding.
Together, they built a family filled with adventure, laughter, and shared passions.
Their home was a universe of comic book heroes, home-cooked meals, sports, and exploration.
Katie, a Pennsylvania native and account manager at Leavitt Group since 2020, was Nate’s partner in every sense.
Katie, a former events and communication manager at Radio Resource, brought her organizational talents to their family life, while Nate infused it with his humor and energy.
Their three children—Mason, Logan, and Emma—were the center of their world.
Nate was a proud dad, always there to escort Emma to father-daughter dances, coach his sons’ sports teams, or plan family trips.
Whether they were cheering for the Denver Broncos or indulging Nate’s lifelong love for the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Eagles, the Klimeks were a team.
“Fly, Eagles, Fly!” was more than a chant for Nate—it was a way of life, soaring through every moment with his family by his side.
Nate Was A Talented Sportsman Who Previously Played For The Scranton Eagles
Born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, to Michelle Kern Klimek and Ken Klimek Sr., Nate grew up alongside his brother, Ken Jr., and sister, Katrina Klimek-Osiecki.
A gifted athlete, he wrestled at Pittston Area Senior High School, graduating in 2002, and even played for the Scranton Eagles.
His love for sports continued into adulthood, from pickleball and weightlifting to softball games with his father and brother.
But Nate’s true calling was service.
After earning his paramedic certification from Luzerne Community College, Nate dedicated his life to helping others.
As a firefighter paramedic with the Platteville Gilcrest Fire Protection District, he served with courage and compassion.
In 2025, the department honored him with the Chief’s Merit Award for five years of exemplary service.
Nate was more than a first responder—he was a brother to his colleagues, always ready to face emergencies with a steady hand and a generous heart.
One community member shared a story that captures Nate’s heroism:
“He was one of the EMT’s who saved my husband long enough to get to the ER. And when my husband didn’t make it, Nate & a few others found a way to stay long enough to comfort me for awhile before family came to be with me.
Via Facebook
Nate was a true hero in every sense of the word and the world is less without him. I’m fortunate that I got to know him even a little bit. He made my life better.
I’m deeply sorry for his passing. I’m sending prayers of comfort, good memories, and unending love in this time of great loss.”
Friends and family remember him as the guy who could light up a room, whether joking at the Food Bank Grab n Go lunch program or dressing up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle as a kid.
“Natedawg,” as his aunt Marissa Harrison affectionately called him, had a knack for making people smile.
His playful spirit extended to his neighborhood, where he and Katie were cherished friends.
A neighbor wrote,
“At the beginning of the week, not only did our community, and especially our street, lose a one-of-a-kind, selfless human being, but our dear, sweet friend Katie lost her soulmate and the father to their three amazing children. Our hearts are shattered, and we cannot believe that we will never see or hear that huge smile with the most contagious laugh ever again. 💔
Via Facebook
And Nathan (Nate), don’t you worry, I’ll do you proud and make sure my pumpkins are extra on show this year, just for you 😂. We are going to forever miss you, but we promise to always be there for your family, and you would be so proud of how strong they have been! 💕💕”
They promised to honor Nate by keeping his love for Halloween pumpkins alive, a nod to his quirky traditions.
The Community Is In Mourning As They Come Together To Support The Klimek Family
The Platteville Gilcrest Fire Protection District shared their grief:
Tributes poured in, each painting a picture of a man who lived fully and loved deeply.
Marissa Harrison, his aunt, wrote,
“Our hearts are broken. I had the blessed fortune of being his aunt–watching him be a good boy and then being a good man. I can still picture him as a kid, dressed like a Ninja Turtle. Fly, Nate, Fly.
Via Facebook
“Natedawg”
After this loss, the Windsor community has come together to support Katie and the children.
A friend’s GoFundMe campaign aims to ease the family’s daily expenses and provide stability for Mason, Logan, and Emma as they heal.
Nate’s faith as a devout Christian guided him, and his loyalty to his teams—the Yankees, Eagles, and Broncos—reflected his unwavering spirit.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mary E. Kern Cox, and her companion, James “Richie” Bruder, but he leaves behind a legacy carried by his wife, children, parents, siblings, and countless others who loved him.
