Kurt Sorenson (1955-2025)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kurt Sorenson. He died peacefully while in hospice care at the home of a friend in Palmer on March 6th. Kurt was a valued friend and neighbor to his Glennallen community where he resided since 1983.
Kurt was born and raised in the inland empire of southern California. His family owned and operated a chicken ranch. After high school Kurt was hired as a wildland firefighter for the San Bernardino National Forest. He parlayed that experience into a fire dispatch position in 1978 with the Bureau of Land Management near Tanacross, Alaska. In 1982, Kurt was hired on by the BLM permanently as a maintenance worker. In 1983, he transferred to Glennallen and worked there for the BLM until his retirement in 2011.
Kurt’s relatives, friends, and neighbors knew him as a reliable, humble, and skilled craftsman who could and would fix almost anything. He built items in his wood shop for many people. In retirement he added bike repair to his repertoire. He cut and hauled his own firewood and was noted for collecting the pallets discarded by local businesses. He was extremely self sufficient, took pride in his independence, and loved his life in Alaska.
Kurt enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, hiking and biking inside and outside of Alaska. In the fall he picked berries from a patch known to a select few. He was an experienced river rafter. He floated numerous rivers with an assortment of friends throughout Alaska, especially in the Fortymile River country. He also traveled to Canada, Mexico, Russia, and Africa.
In 1987, Kurt took a leave of absence from his regular job to hire on with ITT Antarctic Services. He spent 2 months as an equipment operator at field camp D-59 at 8,000 foot elevation on the Antarctic ice cap. The crews task was to excavate, repair, and fly out a damaged LC-130 aircraft that was buried under 16 years of snowdrift. The aircraft recovery was accomplished but 2 air crewman died in the crash of a resupply flight at the D-59 site.
Kurt spent his Christmas holidays in Calimesa, CA. visiting friends and family. For the last 20 years he would fly south in March to attend the Indian Wells tennis tournament, mostly with his sister Karen until her passing. During these trips he hiked in the foothills and deserts nearby. Joshua Tree was a favorite destination with his niece Amy in recent years. His last hikes in the desert were this past December where he was able to visit his folks one last time. Kurt was helped by his friends Kathy, Tamara, and Tahra in his final days. His appealing laugh will be remembered and he will be missed by all.
Kurt was preceded in death by his parents Ken and Wilma Sorenson, also by his sister Karen Wahe. Kurt is survived by niece Amy Fish and family of Moreno Valley, CA; nephew Andy Wahe and family of Yucaipa, CA; nephew David Wahe and family; and brother-in-law Perry Wahe of Prestonburg, Kentucky.