Henry Curran

HENRY 'HANK' NEILSON CURRAN, 88 ROCKFORD - Henry "Hank" Neilson Curran, 88, of Rockford died Sunday, May 8, 2011, at Independence Village. Hank was born Nov. 7, 1922, in Coatbridge, Scotland, the youngest child of James and Clara Alice (Lambie) Curran. He came to the United States in June 1923. He went to Mackenzie High School in Detroit before beginning work at Chicago Rawhide Manufacturing Co. He married Margaret Leitz on Nov. 24, 1943. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Hank and Margaret moved to Elgin in 1958, where he continued to work for Chicago Rawhide until he retired in 1984. He was active at First Baptist Church in Elgin. They moved to Rockford in 1986 to be near their daughter, Nancy and her family. After 48 years together, Margaret died in 1992. On July 29, 1999, Hank married Bette B. (Alverson Coul) Curran. They spent 11 years together traveling, gardening and being with family. Hank also continued his love of woodworking and making toys and dollhouses for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He and Bette also volunteered in the kitchen and anywhere else help was needed at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he became a member in 1986. Hank and Bette volunteered one morning every week at the Rock River Valley Food Pantry. Hank took to heart Christ's desire to feed the hungry in body as well as spirit and collected food for many pantry projects. Survived by wife, Bette; daughter, Nancy (Robert Carlson) Hoffmann of Roscoe; stepchildren, Rev. David (Jane) Coul of Tionesta, Pa., and Barbara (Tom) Stansbury of Coatesville, Pa.; grandchildren, Dr. Kristen (Rev. Peter) Asplin of Washington, Pa., and Dr. Nathan (Michelle) Hoffmann of Duluth, Minn.; stepgrandchildren, Christy Carlson, Christopher Coul, Stacey (Gary Loveridge) Coul, Aaron (Jennifer) Carlsson, Jennifer Stansbury, Lindsey Coul and David Coul; great-grandchildren, Linnea and Johanna Asplin, Luke, Faith and Emma Hoffmann; five stepgreat-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased also by his parents; siblings, James, Ellen, Thomas and John Curran; son-in-law, Dr. Raymond E. Hoffmann; and stepgrandson, David Carlson. Memorial service at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, with visitation from 3 p.m. to time of service; Pastor William Ward will officiate. Private graveside service in Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Rock River Food Pantry. Tributes to the family at sunsetfhmemgardens.com.