Kurt Alan Mitchell

ROCHESTER:

Kurt Mitchell, 76, of Rochester, Vt., died June 1, 2024, at Gifford Medical Center. Born January 8, 1948, in Framingham, Mass., he was the eldest son of Raymond and Edith (Varnum) Mitchell. He grew up in Hopkinton, Mass., and graduated from Hopkinton High School in 1965, later attending the University of Massachusetts and earning an associate’s degree in dairy herd management from Vermont Technical College. In Massachusetts Kurt worked as a cab driver, lifeguard, and hospital orderly, and in Vermont as a carpenter, logger, dairy farm hand, feed salesman, software salesman, Hospice LNA, bartender, and snow groomer. As an entrepreneur in Rochester he operated several businesses, including Digisat (TV satellite sales and installation), the Market Basket (deli), Video Vanguard (video rentals), Rainforest Indoors (tropical seed sales), and Festivus Painting (house painting). Kurt’s sense of humor, beautiful singing voice and guitar playing are cherished memories for his many friends and loved ones. He was an enthusiastic people person, a father of four, little league coach, and willing mentor to boys in his community. If he had the capacity to address an unmet need, Kurt did his best to step up to the plate. “Everything is going be okay,” was his reassuring mantra. And within his circle he contributed much to make it so. Kurt was predeceased by his parents and his beloved grandmother Gladys Varnum. He is survived by his brother Kris Mitchell and wife Erika of Meredith, New Hampshire; brother Scott Mitchell and wife Pam of Rochester; former wife and friend Maureen Dougherty of East Montpelier; son Jesse Mitchell and partner Jill Garreffi of Victor, Idaho; daughter Melissa Mitchell Saito and husband Keita Saito and grandchildren Kaisei and Hyuga Saito of Osaka, Japan; daughter Valerie Mitchell and grandchildren Arianna and Kobe Merced of East Montpelier; and son Ethan Mitchell of Burlington. His family and friends express their deep appreciation for the hospice care he received from Bayada. A memorial service in celebration of his life, will be held at the Federated Church in Rochester, on August 3, 2024, at 1 PM, with a reception following the ceremony in the church fellowship hall. August 11, the Peavine Boys will perform as part of the Rochester Summer Concert Series on the park, in honor of Kurt. Arrangements by Miller & Ketcham of Brandon.