Curt was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri with some of his favorite spots being Union Station and Case Park overlooking Municipal Airport. Curt was born June 14th 1944. As a young boy he loved playing baseball and Cowboys with his cap guns. He graduated from Paseo High School Class of ’62 but not before riding his motorcycle down the front steps onto Paseo Avenue below.
His love of motorcycles led him to open a Motorcycle Shop on Swope Parkway. As he was working outside the shop one day, he noticed a brown-eyed girl walking past and asked her to go on a date. Sharon said ‘Yes’ and they were by each other’s side for more than 56 years.
Curt worked for thirty plus years as a firefighter for the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department, obtaining the rank of Captain in 1977. He loved nothing more than kicking in a door and dragging a hose line in to put out a fire. He once said he’d do his job for free, he loved it so much. As Captain, he was respected for knowing how to balance between making the workday and training fun while ensuring his crew was ready for action through training. He was an early proponent of wearing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and trained many crews on its use in a dark maze his fire company built in the fire station. He led by example volunteering to help with rescue and recovery after the Hyatt Skywalk collapse. He instilled the value of service in his family by organizing on his day off the cleanup and repairs to the home of an elderly neighbor in his district, including the installation of a safe heating source. Dozens of volunteers made his idea a reality. While he was dedicated to doing his job quickly and efficiently, Curt was the mastermind behind many Firehouse pranks. Most involved a water can and many disguises. Saturday mornings he shared his stories of the calls from the night before with his family.
His family was never prouder when he received two Medals of Valor. One was for rescuing a mom who tried to save her two drowning boys who had fallen through ice on the Blue River even though he couldn’t swim. One of Curt’s favorite stories was being in an attic fire with his daughter for the first time and hearing her call out “Daddy it’s getting hot in here”. He said he’d been called many things by many firefighters, but never “daddy”. A few years later he was also able to pin his son’s badge on him as he graduated the Fire Academy and enjoyed hearing his son’s firefighting stories from working the night before.
One of the reasons he loved the Fire Department was because of the hours they worked. Twenty-four on and forty-eight off. He saw having those 48 hours off as an opportunity to do other things. While he liked to sleep until noon most days, he worked on other interests well into the night.
Curt was a “Jack of all Trades”. There was nothing he couldn’t do. He opened a small car lot in 1971 that is still open today. He enjoyed tinkering on anything with an engine and building pole barns. All with his family by his side and a few extra neighborhood kids that he’d put to work if they wanted to hang out.
Curt was always thinking of or coming up with another project and often had to persuade his family that they were good ideas. He took the family on countless trips to learn about his latest interest whether it was looking at motorcycles, race cars, tractors, or antique cars. On a trip to New York, most time was spent at various Fire Stations talking to the firefighters, it was his dream to be a New York firefighter. He loved to wheel and deal and found another man’s junk to be his treasure. He was always buying things but never sold anything.
Curt also had a love of horses. The first thing he did when he bought a home on three acres was bring home a horse. He later shared this love with his grandchildren teaching them to ride in the back yard. His favorite lesson to teach them balance was having them ride the horse with their arms extended doing arm circles and holding on with their legs. As well of sharing his passion for horses with his grandchildren he rode them on his tractors or motorcycles. He helped build pinewood derby cars and took them on Grandpa Camp trips or to ride the carnival rides at the Missouri State Fair. Christmas was his favorite holiday because he loved to give gifts and he always started a wrapping paper ball fight.
Curt touched many lives. He loved having picnics inviting whoever he knew. He expected an Angel Food cake on his birthday and Father’s Day made with fluffy frosting, and he loved his family always keeping them close.
Curt was preceded in death by his father Herbert Lake, mother Fannie Lake (Hinds), brother Herbie Lake, sister Jeanne Park (Lake), brother-in-law William Park and cousin Florence Kinder (Hinds), an infant granddaughter Love Rose Lake and infant great-granddaughter Adelyn Rose Lakey.
Survivors include the love of his life, Sharon Rose Lake (Finkle), daughters Chris Lake-Shelton (Jeff Blake), Donna Lake and Rebecca Lake and son Steven Lake, grandchildren Matthew Shelton, Elaina Shelton, Erica Maize, Kylie Lakey (Tristan), Evan Maize and Major Lake, great-granddaughter Myla Lakey, sisters-in-law Marybeth Lake and Sue Chapin-Park, several nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.
A visitation for John will be held Friday, September 10, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. A Celebration of Life will occur Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the funeral home with entombment immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Curt’s Honor to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at StJude.org.
