In Memory: Kaleb Curtzwiler

Kaleb James Martin Curtzwiler died August 9, 2010. He was 28.

Mr. Curtzwiler was born Jan. 27, 1982, at Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe. The 2000 South Tahoe High School graduate was an avid soccer player.

Although he did not ski competitively, it was a sport he participated in with his family and one that he excelled at.

Kaleb joined the Navy at age 17 while still in high school on the delayed entry program. The day after he graduated from South Tahoe High School, he left for the Navy. His father, Kenny Curtzwiler, a retired Nevada Army National Guard Major, swore him in. Mr. Curtzwiler served for 5 years with the USS BARRY DDG-52 and was a decorated soldier earning the Navy And Marine Corps Achievement Medal and was one of the first to fight in the war on terrorism as a member of the elite VBSS (Visit, Board, Search & Seizure) team in the Gulf rising to the rank of E-5. Mr. Curtzwiler also trained at the Blackwater Training Center earning several commendations and certificates of recommendation from his superiors.

After the military he spent the first couple years on the East Coast working for Micron Technology, before returning to his roots of South Lake Tahoe.

Mr. Curtzwiler was using the GI bill to attend Lake Tahoe Community College where he was a straight-A student with a goal of becoming an environmental engineer with the TRPA.

While on summer break he was working for the janitorial firm that cleans the offices for the city of South Lake Tahoe. Kaleb Curtzwiler represents the second K in K & K Services, the company his father founded in 1982. He worked for the company at various times.

Mr. Curtzwiler is survived by his parents, Pam and Kenny Curtzwiler, sister and nephew, Hannah and Maverik, and brother, Marshall Curtzwiler; all of Meyers, grandmother Irene Curtzwiler of Fremont (who has now joined Kaleb), aunts Susan Curtzwiler and Lisa Curtzwiler, and uncle Bill Curtzwiler; all of Fremont, cousins Eric and Greg Curtzwiler, best friend, Josh Newton, friend Michelle Clarke of
South Lake Tahoe, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. We will
never forget.

In lieu of crying or grieving, the family asks everyone to hug a child.