John was born in Ludington to John and Paula Curtiss Sr. He graduated from the old Traverse City Central High school in 1956. John served in the US Navy and later went to Northwestern Michigan College and then to Northern Michigan University where he earned a degree in Waste Water Management. He worked in Chicago for Scherwin Williams in there chemical lab for several years. He then went on to a long career for the City of Detroit’s Waste Water Management division. After retirement, John returned to Traverse City.
John loved the “out of doors”. He was a avid “Fly Fisherman” and knew all the best streams and riversin Northern Michigan to catch Rainbow, Brown, and Speckled Trout. John made his own “Flys” for fishing and sold many of the beautiful creations.
Collecting stamps, coins, and sports cards was another past time of Johns. He loved a good challenger in a game of Chess.
John was a kind and quiet man not well understood. He gravitated to loving animals, especially dogs.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his loving sister Claudia (Charles) Heindl, nieces, nephews, and cousins, and friends at Birchwood Nursing Home.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Birchwood, Dr. Klein, Helmie, Mary, Pat, Marg, Amanda, John, Jennie, Katie, Pam, Gary, Bob, Ashley, Charlie, Mary G., Renee, Shela, Sam, and on and on. You are all “angels”. Thank you. To Hospice of Michigan, thank you for the compassion to the John and his family. You are wonderful.
Please join the family for celebration of John’s life, March 25, 2013 at 11 am at the Covell Funeral Home in Traverse City. A visitation will be held one hour prior.
Memorial contributions in John’s name may be directed to the Boardman River Nature Center or Hospice of Michigan.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City.
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