Curtis Wilson

Curtis Wilson passed away at Brighton Court Assisted Living Home in Spokane, WA on October 26, 2017 at the age of 74 years after being a resident of the Memory Care Center there since August of 2017. In a salute to his love of trains, his body was transported home to Minnesota on the Amtrak.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Hazel Run Lutheran Church in Hazel Run, MN.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Curtis Irving Wilson, Jr. was born on December 13, 1942 in Fort Worth, Texas to parents Curtis Wilson Sr. and Helen Olson Wilson. He moved with his family back to their ancestral home near Hazel Run Minnesota at the age of eight years. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and graduated from nearby Clarkfield High School in 1961. He continued his education as a student at the University of Minnesota and graduated with his B.A. degree in 1965. In later years he also earned a Masters Degree in Finance from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

In August of 1965 Curtis married Nancy Pederson of Dawson, Minnesota. Three sons were born to this marriage. They started their married life with a honeymoon trip to Idaho Falls, Idaho where Curtis had secured a job with the Carnation Company. They later lived in other cities before settling in Walla Walla, Washington where Curtis was a regional manager for Brea Agriculture. He later worked for a short time at Foster-Marshall as a licensed stock broker.

While living in Walla Walla, Curtis became very active in community affairs and was involved in several service organizations. He was also an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Curtis also had many hobbies including photography, maps, and especially trains and train routes. He had an insatiable historical curiosity and a keen intellect, and like his mother, had kept a daily diary for almost 50 years.

While living in Spokane, Washington Curtis met Marjorie Madsen and her son Gunner in 2007. They were to become his closest family and later served him as loving caregivers for the last several years of his life. For their care we will ever be grateful.

Curtis is also survived by three sons, Curtis Wilson III (Amy) of Seattle, Jonathan Hellberg-Wilson (Sara) of rural Walla Walla area, and Jeremy Wilson (Noni) also of Seattle and eleven grandchildren including: Zachary, Jared and Tyler Wilson, Jake, Helen, Grace, Gwen, and Joseph Hellberg-Wilson, and Lucas, Caroline and Vivian Wilson. He is also survived by a sister Kathleen (John) Isely of Redmond OR and a brother Mark (Elaine Halverson) Wilson of rural Granite Falls MN, and six nieces and nephews. His parents preceded him in death.

Memorials may be given to Hazel Run Lutheran Church in memory of Curtis.

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