Curtises were grand marshals

CRESCO - Chuck and Joan Curtis were chosen as Grand Marshals of the Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest Parade on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The Curtises have been fixtures in the Cresco area as a couple for over 50 years (They will be married 50 years in January.), more so for Chuck as he was born and raised at Kendallville. He graduated from Cresco High School in 1957.
Joan graduated from Notre Dame and grew up on a farm west of the country club. They met on a blind date at a steak fry.
Chuck spent most of his working life as a real estate agent and owning Curtis Land Management for over 40 years. Many of his real estate time was spent at Aspenson Real Estate in Cresco.
Joan did her part in the marriage as well. She raised their five children, “his, mine and ours,” she smiled. In addition she helped on the farm with animals and did a lot of canning.
Together, they have attended as many of their grandchildren’s sporting and other events as they can.
Chuck has enjoyed golfing, gardening, fishing and working in his woodworking shop. The shop is an old schoolhouse that he attended for nine years. It is also used as a hunting cabin.
Over the years, Chuck gave back to his community. He was a member of the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Wrestling Hall of Fame for 40 years (It was at the banquet he was inducted that Chuck met Dr. Borlaug for the only time.), secretary/treasurer of Kendallville Eddy Cemetery for 50 years, longtime trustee of Freemont Township, lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, serving several terms on church council and also with Farm Bureau, Extension Council and Pork Producers in Winneshiek County. The Curtises are huge supporters of the Cresco Country Club.
He was even involved with the earliest Borlaug Fest, when it was called Farm Fest and Ag Fest. 
“The first or second Ag Fest was held in Beadle Park. That was before Fareway was there [which was 1981]. George Johnson and a few others and I cooked hams underground. Chuck Grassley was campaigning for the first time.”
He added that locals purchased a button and that could feed the whole family with a sandwich and drink. “The spot where Ag Fest was held changed over the years. One year, it started at the stoplights and went up Elm St. Another year, we served pork burgers out of the Puritan Locker.” 
Chuck also recalled fellow committee member Allyn Billmyer played a piano all the way through the parade route.
Over the past few years, Chuck has noticed an increase in the housing market. “We were the first ones to purchase a home in our culdesac and in four years, 4-5 new homes have been built.”
Planting crops and the size of farms is another change. He is proud to say that Cresco and area are very progressive. “There is always something going on,” he noted.
When he found out he and Joan were chosen to be grand marshals he joked, “I wasn’t sure I wanted to be grand marshals. Who are the idiots who nominated me?!” Well, it was a group of locals who saw good people who needed to be recognized for their contributions to the Cresco-area community.
Congratulations to the Curtises. 

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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