Henry N. Curran

Hank was born on November 7, 1922 in Coatbridge, Scotland, the youngest child of James and Clara Alice (Lambie) Curran. He came to the United States in June of 1923. He went to Mackenzie High School in Detroit, Michigan before beginning work at Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing Company. He married Margaret Leitz on November 24, 1943. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII.

Hank and Margaret moved to Elgin, IL in 1958 where he continued to work for Chicago Rawhide until he retired in 1984. He was active at First Baptist Church in Elgin. They moved to Rockford in 1986 to be near their daughter, Nancy and her family. After 48 years together Margaret died in 1992.

On July 29, 1999, Hank married Bette B. (Alverson Coul) Curran. They spent 11 years together traveling, gardening and being with family. Hank also continued his love of woodworking and making toys and dollhouses for his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He and Bette also volunteered in the kitchen and anywhere else help was needed at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he became a member in 1986. Hank and Bette volunteered one morning every week at the Rock River Valley Food Pantry. Hank took to heart Christ’s desire to feed the hungry in body as well as spirit and collected food for many pantry projects.

He is survived by his wife, Bette; daughter, Nancy (Robert Carlson) Hoffmann of Roscoe; step children, Rev, David (Jane) Coul of Tionesta, PA and Barbara (Tom) Stansbury of Coatesville, PA; grandchildren, Dr. Kristen (Rev. Peter) Asplin of Washington, Pa and Dr. Nathan (Michelle) Hoffmann of Duluth, MN; step grandchildren: Christy Carlson, Christopher Coul, Stacey (Gary Loveridge) Coul, Aaron (Jennifer) Carlsson, Jennifer Stansbury, Lindsey Coul and David Coul; great grandchildren: Linnea and Johanna Asplin, Luke, Faith and Emma Hoffmann; and 5 step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; siblings: James, Ellen, Thomas, and John Curran; his son-in-law, Dr. Raymond E. Hoffmann and step grandson, David Carlson.

Private graveside services will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens. The memorial service will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 4 p.m. with Pastor William Ward officiating. There will be a visitation from 3 to 4 p.m. before the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Rock River Food Pantry.

Tributes to the family at sunsetfhmemgardens.com.