Curtis H. Gauss

Curt was born September 2, 1938, in Moscow, Idaho, to William H. Gauss and Rachel Chenoweth Gauss. He passed away among family on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in the intensive care unit of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Las Vegas, Nev., following a courageous battle with a respiratory illness.

He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Rachel Cary; stepfather, Russell Snyder; and stepmother, Lorraine Gauss.

It is easy to picture Curt and Rachel laughing over Curt's many funny stories and sense of humor, which continue to bring pleasure to his family. His siblings are Bradford (Marcia) Gauss, Sandra Gauss and Russell S. Snyder, all of Boise, Jo Ann (Edward) O'Keeffe of Brooksville, Fla., and Sharon (Michael) Mills of Covelo, Calif. His father, Col. William Gauss, also resides in Boise.

He is survived by his wife, Ann of Idaho Falls; daughters, Kerry (Orlando) Ponce of Idaho Falls, Ann Garrett of Boise and Jan (Tom) Hickey of Meridian; sons, Mike (Arlene) Gauss of Layton, Utah, and Andrew Gauss of Pocatello; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his best friend of 38 years, Jim (Michele) Mitchell of Givens Hot Springs, Idaho.

Curt grew up in Boise during the 1950's "Golden Age" for teens. He graduated from Boise High School in 1956. During his high school years, he attended one year of school in Germany. He had a community of friends in Boise who enjoyed hunting, fishing, drag racing, rebuilding cars and songfests. Their pranks are local legends, some unsolved. He also had a plethora of old Model T's and A's that he restored, drove and sold to provide money to buy another. The love of old cars stayed with him, and he had recently won "Best of Show" twice for his 1964 Chevy Impala while attending rod-runs as a member of the Eastern Idaho Early Iron Organization.

Curt shared his love of fishing and hunting with his sons, always emphasizing gun safety. The family spent several summer vacations camping with aunts, uncles and cousins in the Stanley, Idaho, area -- one of Curt's favorite places to visit in the state.

Curt served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves. Curt and Ann met when he returned from Army boot camp and the couple has been married for 48 years. Curt never lost his baby face and was stopped by police during his 20's and early 30's to check his license for night driving. He never gave up his favorite hairstyle, the crew cut, which made him easily recognizable.

His work with the Morrison-Knudsen Company took the young couple from Boise to Washington, Wyoming and California, where he operated heavy equipment in the construction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit. They settled in Idaho Falls 38 years ago and raised their family there. Much of Curt's career was working with the various contractors of the now Idaho National Laboratory where he was a maintenance insulator for the Chemical Processing Project (CPP) and later a foreman. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) and the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union. He also was a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Idaho Falls Lodge 1087.

Curt loved to golf. He fathered the "Gauss Open." This annual golf tournament reunites family and friends in revelry and fellowship. When Curt finally won, at the 18th green of the Anthony Lakes tournament, he led his team's awful rendition of Queen's "We Are the Champions." He laughed a lot.

Following his retirement in 2000, he and Ann spent the winter months with other "snowbirds" in the Lake Havasau, Ariz., area. He particularly enjoyed fishing for bass there with his brother Brad. While in Arizona, he made several friends from around the country. His highlights in retirement were NASCAR races, the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and golfing with Brad at PGA West in Palm Springs. The family extends a special "thank you" to those who spent time caring for Curt this past winter. He was loved and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave. in Idaho Falls. The family will greet visitors at a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Ronald McDonald House of Salt Lake City, UT, 1135 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84102, for the wonderful care given to the family of his great-granddaughter, Frankie Marie Alvarez, when she was born prematurely with complications.

Family Tribute