Jack C. Curtis

Jack C. Curtis Battle Creek Jack C. Curtis, 85, of Battle Creek died at Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Care Residence on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2009. He was born in Charlotte, MI to George and Henrietta (Dexter) Curtis on July 26, 1923 and has resided in Battle Creek since a few days after birth. Jack was a 1941 graduate of Lakeview High School where he played varsity baseball and basketball, was a member of the Student Council and Business Manager of the Crystal four years. He was elected to the National Honor Society and received the first ever Outstanding Alumnus Award in May 1983. Jack was employed as a blue collar worker at the Kellogg Company July 26, 1941. He enrolled at Western Michigan and commuted nights after work. Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in December 1942 and was called to active duty February 1943. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator in April of 1944 and flew 31 missions over Europe with the 15th Air Corps, 370th Bomb Group, 514th Bomb Squadron until shot down over Yugoslavia, October 14, 1944 and spent the next eight months as a hospitalized German Prisoner of War. He spent two more years in a series of military hospitals recuperating from service injuries. Jack retired as a Captain in 1947, receiving a Purple Heart, the Air Medal with 6 Clusters and numerous ribbons and medals. Jack received his Associate of Arts with honors from Jackson Community College where he was president of his class. In 1951, he received his Bachelors of Arts from Albion College, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa; named Distinguished Alumnus in 1982 and was a member of MENSA Society. Following commencement Jack returned to the Kellogg Company and commenced a series of varied plant and corporate personnel and industrial relations, professional and managerial responsibilities, including Battle Creek Plant Manager, Industrial Relations Manager, Director of Personnel, Assistant to Vice-President of Employee Relations, Director of Equal Opportunity and retiring as Director of Urban Planning December 1981. Jack married Barbara J. Van Sickle on September 14, 1947. Barb preceded him in death November 21, 1988. Jack married Phyllis E. Seybert June 22, 1991. Phyllis preceded him in death on June 18, 2007. Surviving are a son, Randy (Susan) Curtis of Ada; two daughters, Jane (William) Geluso of Byron Center and Vicki (Bob) Wolf of Battle Creek; grandchildren, Eric Curtis, Linsey (Aaron) Jones, Joel Craven, Matthew (Lark) Craven, Kim (Kevin) Zuidema and Nick and Ryan Wolf; two great-grandchildren, Kolby and Ethan Zuidema; and a sister, Helen Goff-Metzgar of Battle Creek. He was a member of the Lakeview Kiwanis Club since 1951, and served on Legion of Honor, and as treasurer, vice-president and president in 1958. He had 13 years of perfect attendance and had been chair of all committees and was a senior member of the club. He was a member of the Battle Creek YMCA since 1952, serving on the Board of Directors from 1960-62 and was the chairman of the membership campaign in 1961. He was a member of the Battle Creek Township Planning Commission for 11½years and was chairman from 1971-73. He was a charter member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church since 1959 and served on the perennial Pastor Parish Relations Committee, Administrative Board, the North Central Jurisdictional Conference Executive Committee and Vice Chair Ethnic Minority Local Church Committee, District Committee Chairman of committee to study feasibility of locating a new United Methodist Church in a predominantly black community 1979-84 (worshipping congregation established in Jackson, MI), Conference and District Ethnic Minority Local Church Committees and received first Lay Leadership award from Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. He was also Vice Chair of the Building Committee, and Chair of Building and Design Committee from 1985-87. Jack was a board member of the Kellogg Federal Credit Union and on the supervisor committee. He was a board member for 6 years of Camp Fire and received Ernest Thompson Seaton award. He was director in 1983 and Vice Chair 1988-92 of the Missions and Church Extension and Albion-Adrian Trust Funds. He was on the Committee of 100 that led to establishment of Calhoun County Vocational School from 1963-65. Served on the Advisory Committee from 1975-80 for the Washington Heights Community Ministries, and was Secretary/Treasurer 1975-81, Board of Directors 1981-83, Secretary 1982-83 and Chairman of the Board for two terms. He was Charter Trustee for the Lakeview Schools Educational Foundation since 1987; was director of the Battle Creek Area Urban League from 1980-85, Vice Chairman from 1981-82 and Chairman from 1983-85. He was a member of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce since 1951, was Director 1976-82; Secretary 1979-82; member of Ambassadors 1982, Ambassador Supreme 1985-87; member of President Committee, 1982; member of numerous committees and task forces. He was Director of the World Hot Air Balloon Championship Board 1981-91; treasurer 1985-90 and received the Presidents Award in 1985 and was member of SCORE 1984-87. Was a member of Employers Unemployment Compensation Council; serving as director 1975-77, secretary 1977-80 and chairman 1983-85. He was the director of Industrial Michigan from 1980-84. He served as director of the Kellogg Retiree Association in 1986 and chaired the Retiree Florida Picnic in 1985. Jack was one of three original founders of the Food Bank of South Central Michigan and received the George Award for his efforts there. He served as director from 1982-92, secretary 1982-85, and was Chairman for 3 years. He chaired $600,000 capital campaign to build new distribution center and was named Honorary Lifetime Board Member and Founder in 1992. He served on the I Care Advisory Committee 1980-84 and received the First Annual Commitment Award from the Black Family Publications in 1981. He was the director of the United Way for 2 years and served on the state United Way Board for 2 years and conducted 3 Kellogg Company drives and was chairman of the major firms division in 1985. He received Carnation Community Service Award in 1990 and in 1993 the Concerned Citizens Award from Citizens Insurance Company of America. He also received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Food Bank of South Central Michigan 1990. He also served on the Greater Battle Creek Community Prayer Breakfast Committee in 1990 and Fort Custer National Cemetery Advisory Committee 1990-92. Other affiliations he had were Disabled Officers Association, Commander two terms, Air Force Association Life Member, Retired Officers Association Life Member, Southwest Michigan Labor Management Association, Disabled American Veterans Life Member, Michigan United Conservations Clubs Honorary Lifetime Membership, Kellogg Sportsmens Club, National Alliance of Business, Veterans of Foreign Wars Life Member, American Horticultural Society, Industrial Relations Research Association, Caterpillar Club, MENSA, Proctor MENSA Southwest Michigan, Save our Schools and Excellence in Education Committees Lakeview School District, Manager of Battle Creek Township Merger with City of Battle Creek Merger Drive Office, Project Self Reliance, Military Order of the Purple Heart Life Member, Hal-Pro Liberandos, 375th Heavy Bomb Group Veterans Association Life Member and Squadron Representative, 15th Air Force Association Life Member, American Ex-Prisoners of War Life Member and Central Michigan Chapter Commander 1988-90 and 1993, American Legion, NAACP Life member, and Urban League Life Jack enjoyed crossword puzzles, fishing, gardening, playing bridge and poker, collecting after shave lotions and volunteering. At the request of the family, friends may call after 6:00 Thursday at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home where they will be received 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday and then on Friday 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. Services to celebrate Jack’s life will be held at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, May 30, 2009. Military Honors by the U.S. Air Force and committal will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, Lakeview-Urbandale Kiwanis Club or the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.