Paul J. Huerta, 42, of Scottsbluff and formerly of Kearney died January 21, 2013 at his home in Scottsbluff, NE.

Memorials services will be Monday, January 28, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney. Father Joe Hannappel will officiate. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Scottsbluff Humane Society or the Kearney Area Animal Shelter. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. A message of condolence, tribute or memory can be left at www.hlmkfuneral.com Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl.

He was born November 2, 1970 in Kearney to Lawrence and Delores Escutia Huerta. He grew up in Kearney and graduated from Kearney High School.

He is a veteran of Desert Storm serving in the U.S. Army. After returning from the service he worked at Eaton’s in Kearney in the forge shop. He moved to Montana and worked as a trouble shooter for Wal-Mart then was a driver for handicap people. He moved to Scottsbluff in 2009 and attended school at Scottsbluff Community College and graduated with a paramedic degree.

Survivors include his mother, Delores Huerta of Kearney; his father, Larry (Linda) Huerta of Kearney; stepfather, Tom Turek of Kearney; brothers,l Larry Huerta of Seattle, Washington and Chris Huerta of Lakewood, Colorado; nephew, Christopher; nieces, Kayla and Cheyenne; stepbrother, Brent Robison of Kearney; uncle, Anatolio Escutia of Mexico, aunts, Lupe Rodehorst of Kearney, Rosalie Silos of Lincoln, and Anita Lindner of Hastings; cousin, Robert Gardner of Evergreen, Colorado; step-niece, Anna Lyons of Hastings; and numerous other cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe and Josie Huerta and Floyd and Mary Turek.