Geraldine Curtis' Obituary
Howard City - Geraldine (Gerri) Frances Curtis, 93, passed away at The Brook Retirement Community with Assisted and Independent Living in Newaygo, on Sunday, July 10, 2016. Geraldine was born on December 3, 1922, to Alfred J. and Margaret M. (Bott) Gietzen on the family farm in Remus, Michigan. She was known as Peggy only to her family as they gave her that nickname shortly after birth. Geraldine suffered from a variety of health issues throughout her life, missing a substantial amount of school. In spite of that, she was valedictorian of her graduating class at St. Michael's Catholic School in Remus. Gerri was employed at the Creamery (now Leprino Foods) in Remus where she met L.D. Clyde Curtis. They later married in Remus on June 5, 1948, moved to Barryton, and later to Mt. Pleasant, where she worked for the president of Central Michigan University. Clyde and Geraldine had two children, Denise and Lanny. In 1975 Gerri and Clyde moved to Howard City and built their dream home across from Christ the King Catholic Church. Gerri remained very active in the church for the next 40 years, serving on various committees, working on many funeral dinners, reading for masses, and baking for numerous bake sales and bazaars as well as for friend's birthdays and other celebrations. Gerri took great pride in her baking and cooking and it gave her great joy to share this gift with others. In the months before her death, she was still baking for others. Gerri and Clyde enjoyed many years of square dancing and Gerri also bowled for several years. Gerri was preceded in death by her husband on February 15, 2016, and his funeral was held February 19. Later that same day, Gerri fell in her home and broke her neck and her nose. Thus began a journey of surgeries, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. She continued her fight for life with dignity, in spite of her multiple health problems, and the pain she experienced every day. Gerri is survived by her daughter Denise (Paul) Jefts of Big Rapids, and her son Lanny (Tammy) Curtis of Howard City. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren Karen Jefts of Grand Rapids, Carl (Tasia) Jefts of Rodney, Lynne (Jim) Garvey of Canton, Randy (Kylie) Curtis of Pottersville, NY, Chad Curtis of Comstock Park, Alicia Curtis of Edmond, OK, Maria Curtis of Howard City; great-granddaughters Eva Jefts and Alivianna Curtis; brother Allen (Bonnie) Gietzen; sisters-in-law Francis Gietzen Richards, Doris Drake of Barryton, Carroll Hull of Muskegon, Beverly (Clois) Bowman of Reed City; brother-in-law Ron (Gerry) Curtis of Big Rapids; and many nieces and nephews. Gerri was also preceded in death by her parents, brother Brice "Bud" Gietzen, sister Bethyl Walthers, father-in-law George Curtis, mother-in-law Mabel Curtis, sisters-in-law Barbara Carroll, Neva Fenton, Wilma Fenton, Marge Weeks, brothers-in-law Walt Walthers, Colin Drake, Wayne Hull, Ford Fenton, Eddie Fenton, Harold Weeks, and Robert Curtis, nieces Sheila Bowman and Lori Walthers, nephews David Fenton and Larry Walthers and great-grandson Ezra Michael Curtis. Funeral services for Gerri will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 15, 2016, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 9596 Reed Road in Howard City, with Rev. James Wyse officiating. Burial will be in the St. Apollonia Cemetery in Morley. Gerri's family will greet friends from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids, and after 10 a.m. on Friday at the church. Memorial contributions in her name may be made for the church or to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, with envelopes available at the funeral home.
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