ABOUT KEVIN WESTER
Founder/CEO
A trusted, reliable expert
Over the past 20 years, Kevin Wester has gained a reputation throughout the U.S. and Luxembourg as a leading, trustworthy authority on “all things Luxembourg,” including touring, culture and the dual citizenship process.
Luxembourgish Roots
Kevin was born in Port Washington, Wisconsin, and grew up in Belgium, Wisconsin, the heart of Ozaukee County’s strong Luxembourg heritage and culture. He is proud to be 100% Luxembourg American with all of his immigrant ancestors coming from the Grand Duchy to Wisconsin from 1846–1865. Kevin was highly influenced by his maternal grandfather, John Burmesch, who was the son of Luxembourg immigrants. “Grandpa John,” as Kevin calls him, “was a crotchety, old Luxembourg farmer who loved to speak Lëtzebuergesch and eat treipen, and whose life was deeply rooted in family, faith and heritage.”
Kevin’s grandfather frequently took him to visit the old Burmesch family farm and family homesteads, cemeteries, and churches in the area. This experience in his youth led Kevin to develop an undying passion for, and pride in, his Luxembourg heritage.
Throughout high school, college and his adult life, Kevin has remained an avid historian and genealogist and has written numerous books/booklets pertaining to his Luxembourg ancestors, Luxembourg-American topics, and local history. He served as president of the Port Washington Historical Society and was a key leader in the restoration of the society’s 1860 Light Station and the gift of the light station’s tower from Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture.
A Founder of LACS
Respected for his leadership, integrity, energy, and organizational and customer service skills, Kevin was a driving force in the founding of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society (LACS) and the fundraising for and building of the Luxembourg American Cultural Center, where he served as executive director until 2015.
Kevin oversaw the development of the society’s membership base, fundraising for its $1.5 million cultural center, and the development of the center’s research center, which is the largest research center for Luxembourg studies and genealogy outside of the Grand Duchy. He also organized the society’s Discover Luxembourg tours and has led numerous group tours to the Grand Duchy, Belgium, Germany and France.
Knight of the Oak Crown
Because of his efforts to promote ongoing relations between Luxembourg and the United States, Kevin was knighted as a Knight of the Oak Crown by Grand Duke Henri in 2011. The award was presented by Ambassador Jean-Paul Senninger at the Luxembourg Embassy in Washington, D.C. In 2015, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg presented Kevin with a medallion of honor from the Archdiocese of Luxembourg in recognition of his efforts to promote ongoing relations between Luxembourg and the U.S.
Attaché for Cultural Affairs & Public Relations
Since 2015, Kevin has been a private consultant assisting Luxembourg Americans with their reclamation of Luxembourg nationality/dual citizenship. In 2018, Kevin launched Luxembourg Adventures with Kevin Wester, a group tour and travel consultation company, to share his passion for exploring Luxembourg with others from around the world. In 2021, he was named Attaché for Cultural Affairs & Public Relations for the Honorary Consulate of Luxembourg in Wisconsin.
Leader in Citizenship
In 2012, Kevin reclaimed his Luxembourg nationality and became a dual citizen of the USA and Luxembourg. At that time, he developed a consultation process on behalf of the LACS to assist Luxembourg Americans seeking reclamation of Luxembourg nationality. Since then, he has assisted thousands of people from throughout the U.S. and other parts of the world with the reclamation of Luxembourg nationality process.
In 2015, Kevin retired as executive director of the LACS and donated his life’s collection of Luxembourg artifacts and archival material to the center. Kevin now resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.