JACK CURTIS

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JACK CURTIS Jack Curtis was born July 21, 1922 and on October 13, 2012 he slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings . He was predeceased by his father Waler Sydney Curtis (1948) and his mother Emily Louisa (Shelvey) Curtis (1964), his sisters Eva Blaquiere (1998) and Ellen McCurdy (1976), brothers Sidney J. Curtis (1967), Ernest Curtis (1926) and Lawrence Ernest Curtis (1970), his brothers-in-law Robert McCurdy (1976) and Babe Blaquiere (1997), sister-in-law Gladys (Constable) Curtis (2004). He is survived by his brother Reginald Gordon Curtis, nephews Philip Blaquiere (Cheryl) and Lawrence Curtis (Pamela), and his niece Barbara Curtis Bell (Rod), great-nieces Christine Blaquiere, Laura Blaquiere and Lisa Marie (Bell) Spradbrow and her daughter Jordan Marie, great-nephew Ryan Curtis (Jen) and their children Alexis and Taylor and great-nephew Eric Curtis. Uncle Jack will be greatly missed by Harold and Margaret Gillespie, Heather and Norbert Klatt, Christine Laramee and Cameron Campbell and their children Cameron and Nicole, Adrienne Laramee and her partner Jordan Ingram, Doug and Donna Harding and their children Scott and Lisa. Also left to mourn the passing of a beloved friend Chuck and Leanne Arnason. Jack was born in Winnipeg and spent his youth in Norwood and surrounding areas growing up in a busy family. On January 16, 1942 he started active duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force, 402 Squadron and after serving in England, Burma and India was honourably released on January 12, 1946 and transferred to the reserve. Jack spent his time in the service working in and around airplanes which he greatly enjoyed. He was a recipient of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defense Medal, 1939 to 1945 Star and the Burma Star. Upon returning from the war Jack worked at odd jobs before becoming a fixture at Shore Glass. Starting March 28, 1956 Jack quickly became a respected employee, a true Jack of all trades and remained at Shore Glass until his retirement in 1987. He was a member in good standing with the RedBoine Boating Club and was known as King of the River . He spoke fondly about his boats especially The Red Nyte and his many trips up the river to Lockport stopping off along the way to catch a fish or have a Bar-B-Que with friends. He spent many hours on the Robinson farm in Woodlands where he had his own horse. Jack was generous with his time and his talents, of which there were so many. He could paint, carve, sculpt, write poetry and loved to dabble at everything, fishing, archery, motorcycles, snowmobiles, horses, guitars. He made a cane for himself that had a gun for the handle. It was a magnet for anyone he came across and he always thoroughly enjoyed the conversations he would then have with perfect strangers. Jack's great love was the game of golf. He was always on the lookout for the perfect club. Tinkering and changing weights and lengths, grips and balls always searching for a way to conquer the game. He spent many hours on the driving range helping countless numbers of golfers work on their game. He was one of The Morning Men at Arnasons' Golf for over 25 years arriving at sun-up and making sure all the golf balls from the night before were picked, washed and in the clubhouse before the start of a new day. He helped with the building of two of the golf courses and was always a very staunch supporter. His artistic soul led him to become a prolific painter. He has left behind an amazing collection of work. Some are hanging in the homes of family, friends and acquaintances, some in car dealerships and hospitals. Jack left a small token of himself everywhere he went. His poetry reflects his humorous side. Always a twinkle in his eye. Retirement did not mean a slowing down for Jack. He was up very early and out for breakfast here and there making friends along the way. Out to the driving range or golf dome to perfect his swing and then lunch. After that it was time for a nap, dinner, a little TV and to bed early to get up the next morning and do it all over again. He had a long-lasting love for motorcycles. Just hearing one rumble up the street or seeing one parked always brought back memories of when he was a motorcycle rider himself. He would tell countless stories of himself and his friends and their rides together. Always some tomfoolery along the way. Jack collected people in his 90 years of life. He made friends wherever he went and his Family is an eclectic group connected by a sincere love for him. A special thank-you to Dr. Hasdan and the staff of Deer Lodge Tower 7. Your compassionate care for Jack made it possible for him to have a dignified life to the very end. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or Deer Lodge Centre. A Celebration of Jack's Life will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue. Interment at Brookside Cemetery. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 www.nbardal.mb.ca
Publish Date: Oct 19, 2012

JACK CURTIS Jack Curtis was born July 21, 1922 and on October 13, 2012 he slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings . He was predeceased by his father Walter Sydney Curtis (1948) and his mother Emily Louisa (Shelvey) Curtis (1964), his sisters Eva Blaquiere (1998) and Ellen McCurdy (1976), brothers Sidney J. Curtis (1967), Ernest Curtis (1926) and Lawrence Ernest Curtis (1970), his brothers-in-law Robert McCurdy (1976) and Babe Blaquiere (1997), sister-in-law Gladys (Constable) Curtis (2004). He is survived by his brother Reginald Gordon Curtis, nephews Philip Blaquiere and Lawrence Curtis, and his niece Barbara Curtis Bell. Uncle Jack will be greatly missed by Harold and Margaret Gillespie, Heather and Norbert Klatt, Christine Laramee and Cameron Campbell and their children Cameron and Nicole, Adrienne Laramee and her partner Jordan Ingram, Doug and Donna Harding and their children Scott and Lisa. Also left to mourn the passing of a beloved friend, Chuck and Leanne Arnason. Jack was born in Winnipeg and spent his youth in Norwood and surrounding areas growing up in a busy family. On January 16, 1942 he started active duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force, 402 Squadron and after serving in England, Burma and India was honourably released on January 12, 1946 and transferred to the reserve. Jack spent his time in the service working in and around airplanes which he greatly enjoyed. He was a recipient of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. Upon returning from the war Jack worked at odd jobs before becoming a fixture at Shore Glass. Starting March 28, 1956 Jack quickly became a respected employee, a true Jack of all trades and remained at Shore Glass until his retirement in 1987. He was a member in good standing with the RedBoine Boating Club and was known as King of the River . He spoke fondly about his boats especially The Red Nyte and his many trips up the river to Lockport stopping off along the way to catch a fish or have a Bar-B-Que with friends. He spent many hours on the Robinson farm in Woodlands where he had his own horse. Jack was generous with his time and his talents, of which there were so many. He could paint, carve, sculpt, write poetry and loved to dabble at everything, fishing, archery, motorcycles, snowmobiles, horses, guitars. He made a cane for himself that had a gun for the handle. It was a magnet for anyone he came across and he always thoroughly enjoyed the conversations he would then have with perfect strangers. Jack's great love was the game of golf. He was always on the lookout for the perfect club. Tinkering and changing weights and lengths, grips and balls always searching for a way to conquer the game. He spent many hours on the driving range helping countless numbers of golfers work on their game. He was one of The Morning Men at Arnasons' Golf for over 25 years arriving at sun-up and making sure all the golf balls from the night before were picked, washed and in the clubhouse before the start of a new day. He helped with the building of two of the golf courses and was always a very staunch supporter. His artistic soul led him to become a prolific painter. He has left behind an amazing collection of work. Some are hanging in the homes of family, friends and acquaintances, some in car dealerships and hospitals. Jack left a small token of himself everywhere he went. His poetry reflects his humorous side. Always a twinkle in his eye. Retirement did not mean a slowing down for Jack. He was up very early and out for breakfast here and there making friends along the way. Out to the driving range or golf dome to perfect his swing and then lunch. After that it was time for a nap, dinner, a little TV and to bed early to get up the next morning and do it all over again. He had a long-lasting love for motorcycles. Just hearing one rumble up the street or seeing one parked always brought back memories of when he was a motorcycle rider himself. He would tell countless stories of himself and his friends and their rides together. Always some tomfoolery along the way. Jack collected people in his 90 years of life. He made friends wherever he went and his Family is made up of people not connected by DNA but by a sincere love for him. A special thank-you to Dr. Hasdan and the staff of Deer Lodge Tower 7. Your compassionate care for Jack made it possible for him to have a dignified life to the very end. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or Deer Lodge Centre. A Celebration of Jack's Life will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame. Interment at Brookside Cemetery. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 www.nbardal.mb.ca
Publish Date: Oct 18, 2012

JACK CURTIS Peacefully, on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Deer Lodge Centre, Jack Curtis passed away at the age of 90 years. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue (across from Brookside Cemetery) NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 www.nbardal.mb.ca
Publish Date: Oct 16, 2012
Publish Date: Oct 18, 2012

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 19, 2012