Kurt Freewald

There will be a celebration of life for Bishop resident Kurt Freewald 
at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at his father’s home, 645 E. Champlain No. 
101, Fresno.

Born February 9, 1975, Kurt died Jan, 7, 2006 at Northern Inyo Hospital 
in Bishop

Kurt lived in Salt Lake City through junior high school, then he moved 
to Fresno. He graduated from Clovis High School and moved to Yosemite. 
He lived there for several years, working in the Mountain Shop to 
support his climbing passion. He especially enjoyed bouldering, which 
eventually lead him to Bishop.

Kurt decided to return to school, and he attended Fresno State 
University, graduating as a registered nurse in 2003. He worked as a 
nurse in Fresno, and later in Lancaster in the emergency department. In 
December 2004, Kurt moved to Bishop to pursue his love of bouldering 
and started work at Northern Inyo Hospital as a registered nurse in the 
med-surg unit, and later in the emergency department.

Kurt was not only a nurse at Northern Inyo Hospital, he was also a 
valued member of the “hospital family” and was loved by all who were 
fortunate to work with him. Kurt’s quiet compassionate personality and 
humor made an impact far beyond the individual unit where he worked. 

Kurt recently completed building a flat-water kayak and had taken it on 
a maiden voyage on North Lake in the fall. He was thrilled whenever he 
had the opportunity to be on the local lakes with his kayak.

His parents and sisters were able to come to Bishop this past week and 
meet with many of Kurt’s co-workers. His family said how touched they 
were to know he meant so much to everyone at the hospital.

Kurt is survived by his parents, Dale Freewald of Fresno and Karen 
Taylor of Sandy, Utah; three sisters and their families, Audree Juhlin 
of Sedona, Ariz., Kristine Bogart of Boynton Beach, Fla. and Eydie Long 
of Fresno.



The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Saturday, January 14, 2006 – Page A-2
Transcribed by Charlotte S. Bryant