Verdi “Kirt” Curtis

Verdi “Kirt” Curtis, 77, of Marion, Iowa, passed away Thursday, November 30, 2017, at his home surrounded by his family. Visitation was held from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Monday, December 4, 2017, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. Celebration of Life began at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home.
Kirt was born March 25th, 1940, in Wellington, Maine, the son of Maynard and Gertrude (Sinclair) Curtis. He graduated from Piscataquis High School in Guilford, Maine. He served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1966 and was stationed in Pakistan for half of his service. Kirt then graduated with a Fine Arts degree from RIT, Rochester, New York. While raising his family in Lincoln, Nebraska, Kirt dedicated his time and talents by providing leadership to his son’s Boy Scout troop and also designed and constructed stage sets for his daughter’s ballet productions. He married Linda Langenberg July 2, 1999, in Davenport. Kirt’s profession and passion was woodcarving, and he was an internationally recognized woodcarver and woodcarving instructor. Kirt was a member of the Cedar Valley Woodcarvers, MidAmerica Woodcarvers, and Affiliated Woodcarvers LTD. He loved hunting, camping and especially fishing with his grandkids. Kirt’s enthusiasm for the Nebraska Cornhuskers was borderline fanatical.
Kirt is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Brent Curtis; daughter, Jessica (Lance Hedlund) Curtis; step-son, Matthew Langenberg; step-daughter, Tracy (Brad) Houdeshell; step-daughter, Kari (Tim) Box; eight grandchildren, Meredith and Merelyn Curtis, Jacob and Carly Langenberg, Blake and Parker Houdeshell, and Brandon and Naomi Box; sister, Carolyn (Roy) Lemieux; and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gordon, Rodney, Kenneth, and Larry Curtis; and a sister, Meredith Chadbourne.
Kirt will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and woodcarvers all around the country.
A memorial fund has been established in Kirt’s memory.
The family is grateful for the compassionate care received from St. Luke’s Hospital, Unity Point Home Health, and Unity Point Hospice.
Please share a memory of Kirt at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.