Donald James Curtis

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DONALD JAMES CURTIS, age 75, of Wolcottville, died on Friday, November 20, 2015 at his home with his family by his side.  Mr. Curtis was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina on October 23, 1940 to the late Donald Millard and Lois K. (Kamman) Curtis and grew up in Fort Wayne and Garrett, Indiana. He married Joyce Elaine Coney on January 23, 1960 at St. Mary of the Angels Church on Big Long Lake near Hudson, Indiana. Joyce preceded him in death on July 20, 2013.  Don was a life-long entrepreneur starting with a paper route in Ft. Wayne that he did on his bicycle.  He owned Curtis Bros. Heating & Plumbing from 1962-1990 and was a licensed plumbing contractor.  He owned and operated many businesses over the years including Curtis Expedited Trucking, Woodruff Grove Gravel, Curtis Auto Sales in Rome City, Sylvan Lake Package and House of Spirits in Kendallville, a dairy store, a discount variety store, and investment real estate.  He loved the art of the deal and buying and selling a wide variety of things.  Don enjoyed traveling throughout the United States in his motor coach, and especially enjoyed spending the winter months in Quartzsite, Arizona and Laughlin, Nevada.  He made many friends playing poker with the same group of guys at the Riverside Resort & Casino.  He was a long-time member of St. Gaspar Catholic Church in Rome City.  

Survivors include: 
Daughter, Tina and Kevin Konrath of Rome City.
Daughter, Susy and Dave Reynolds of Wolcottville. 
Son, Trent Curtis of Wolcottville.
Daughter, Cathy and Mike Lutz of Frisco, Texas.  

Six grandchildren: Ashley Konrath of Sylvan Lake; Justin and Alison Reynolds of Fort Wayne; Jackie Reynolds of Fort Wayne; Beth and Andy Desmonds of Fort Wayne; and Michael and Hailey Dinehart of Fayetteville, West Virginia; and Tommy Curtis of Wolcottville. 
Eight step-grandchildren: Jon Lutz, Ryan Lutz, Derek Lutz, Kiley Lutz, Alexis (Kyle) Grossman, Madison (Brock) Bateman, Chelsea Prill, and Jaxon Prill. 
Three great-grandchildren; MaryJane Reynolds, Silas Reynolds, and Zoey Desmonds.  

Brother, Gary and Jill Curtis of Angola. 
Sister, Dorothy Fritz of Fort Wayne.
Sister, Lucy and Paul Cumston, Jr. of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Three sisters-in-law, Brenda and Paul Trowbridge of Westfield; Becky Coney of LaGrange; and Marsha and Mark Shumaker of LaGrange. 
Two brothers-in-law, Bruce and Norlina Coney of Butler; Ron and Nancy Burtch of Kendallville.  
He also had many loving nieces and nephews and many great friends.  

Visitation will be Monday, November 23, 2015 from 2:00-7:00pm at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville. Rosary services will begin at 6:45pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 11:00am at St. Gaspar Catholic Church, Rome City.  There will be one hour of visitation at the church before the mass.

Officiating the funeral mass will be Fr. Bernard Ramenaden.

Burial will be at Woodruff Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to masses or Parkview-Noble Hospice.

Casketbearers will be Kevin Konrath, David Reynolds, Michael Lutz, Justin Reynolds, Andy Desmonds, and Michael Dinehart.

Send a condolence to the family of Don at www.hitefuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook.com

Arrangements entrusted to Hite Funeral Home of Kendallville.

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