Duane Dean Curtis

Duane Dean Curtis, 75, husband of Anna Mohrs Curtis, passed on May 28th, 2020. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at First Christian Church in Ft. Walton Beach, FL.

         The youngest son of Max and Hattie Novotny Curtis of Ree Heights, SD, he was born in neighboring Highmore on December 23rd, 1944. When he was 6, his father died of cancer, and his mother later married Benjamin Bezner of Highmore. 

         Subsequent to graduation from Highmore High School in 1962, he enlisted in the military. He retired after 26 years of active duty, having served 3 years in the U.S. Army and then 23 in the U.S. Air Force. He was a Vietnam veteran.

         In 1972, Dean and Anna married, and he became stepfather to her son and two daughters.

         Preceding him in death, in addition to his father, were his mother and stepfather; brothers, Bryan and Bruce Curtis; and stepsisters, Doris and her husband Art Cermak, and Pearl and her husband Vern Loken. 

         Surviving, in addition to Anna, are the 3 children: Michael Mack and his wife Sandi of Fort Walton Beach; Karen and her husband Marlin Metzger of Murfreesboro, TN and Kimberly and her husband Patrick Malone of Louisville, KY. 4 grandchildren:      Sarah Malone, Christen Malone, and finance, Emilio Vallecillio;  Zachary Romaine, and his wife Chelsea,  Justin Romaine, and his wife Katya. 2 great-grandchildren: Jane Romaine and Diego Vallecillo, and Anna’s sister Margriet Mohrs of Holland and other family members there. 

Also surviving are: Dean’s brother Jerry Curtis and his wife Ruth of Waynesboro, VA, sister-in-law Loyola Curtis (widow of Bryan) of Hopkins, MN, stepsisters Florence and her husband Richard Straight of Florence, CO, and Virginia and husband Delmar Van Zee of Miller, SD; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Dean participated in sports in his younger years—including being on the first five of Highmore High School’s District Championship Basketball Team of 1962—and, lifelong, was an avid sports fan. 

There was cremation. 

Arrangements have been handled by the Pittman Funeral Home, Geneva, AL.

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