Page 8 James J. Hill Days • Thursday, August 28, 2025 sailor. com
Wayzata honors Kurt Klapprich as 2025 James J. Hill Days Grand Marshal
By JAY MORGAN jay. morgan @ apgecm. com
With 40 years of service to the Wayzata community, it has come as no surprise the Wayzata West Metro Chamber has announced their decision to name Kurt Klapprich as the 2025 James J. Hill Days Grand Marshall.
“ There are so many people that do so many great things for the city and it’ s probably hard for the Chamber to pick, so it’ s really an honor that they picked me,” Klapprich shared.
The name of Klapprich has become a bit of a celebrity name across the Wayzata community due to the family’ s deep history with Wayzata and multi-generational service to the community. Starting his career in Wayzata in 1985 at 23, Klapprich served the community as a parks worker until 2010, when he became the parks department lead at Wayzata Public Works. Klapprich not only worked to keep Wayzata beautiful for community members and visitors but also kept them safe as a Wayzata firefighter for 43 years.
“ My dad was in the department for 49 years and was the chief for 20, my brother has been in for 47 years and has been the chief for about 20 years as well, so it’ s kind of a learned behavior,” Klapprich shared.
After retiring from Wayzata Public Works this year, Klapprich gave the Sun Sailor a glimpse at his experience growing up and working in Wayzata.
Q: Starting your career at the Wayzata Public Works and serving the community over 40 years ago, what did you first start doing at that time?
“ I was just a parks worker, so I did the mowing, picking up trash cans— we service about 80 trash cans around town here, but we didn’ t have as many back in‘ 85, so I just picked up trash around town, shoveled snow and took care of the skating rink and ball field.”
Q: When you became the leader of the parks department, what was the best part?
“ I’ d say it’ s just my town. I grew up here and take pride in it. Everyone makes comments on how beautiful the flowers are and the work that we do. We want to make it nice for people to come and visit. Everything is so seasonal, so in the summertime, it’ s taking pride in our gardens, the downtown area, and our city buildings. In the wintertime, it’ s keeping the sidewalks and streets safe for people to walk and drive, even the skating rink, which is well renowned, and we take care of it seven days a week, so it’ s great fun for me. I’ d also say carrying out my grandpa’ s legacy.”
Q: Speaking of that legacy, what does it feel like knowing that your name is so monumental in Wayzata?
“ It’ s a great honor. My grandpa came to town and made a good name for us so it just makes you proud to keep the good name.”
Q: What has been your favorite part about working with Wayzata Public Works and just serving Wayzata in general?
“ It’ s the teamwork, the teamwork of all the departments of public works and then we work with the police department, we work with the fire department on different things, so it’ s just the teamwork, camaraderie and just the service over self.”
Q: What inspired you to stay and continue serving the Wayzata community?
“ I’ m a lifelong resident. I grew up here, have always lived here, and I enjoy it. I enjoyed working in my community and
I like helping people. Another fun thing was to kind of carry on my grandfather’ s legacy of taking care of the park named after him.”
Q: Do you have a favorite memory of working and living in Wayzata?
“ It’ s not really a memory but looking back on how many changes I’ ve seen. The Lake Street changing from what it was, when I started working here the parking ramp on Mill Street was where I reported to work and was where the public works garage was, where McCormick’ s Restaurant is, was a gravel parking lot, a new lakewalk, the Bay Center was a 1960 strip mall that transformed into five story buildings. It’ s a whole different town.”
Q: You have four kids ranging in age from 24-40. What has it been like raising them in Wayzata?
“ It’ s great fun. They all know the drill and this is the time when I have to thank them for putting up with me. If I got to go plow snow in the middle of the night and when they come home, I might be napping because I’ m tired. And for the times I get up from Thanksgiving dinner and go off to a fire call, I have to thank them for allowing me to serve the community.”
Q: What do you think the Chamber was thinking of when they decided to choose you as the Grand Marshal?
“ I’ ve worked with them for many years on all of their events and logistics with working for the city and making sure everything worked out so I think they just wanted to honor me and that makes me feel great.”
Q: Is there anything you’ d like to add or say to the community before you head out as the 2025 James J. Hill Days Grand Marshal?
“ Just thank you. Thank you for thanking me.”