Carolyn June Curtis

1935 - 2026

Carolyn June Curtis, 90, of Independence, Iowa – formerly of Bushnell, Illinois – entered eternal rest on February 11, 2026, at Lexington Estate in the Buchanan County Health Center.  A 9:00 AM visitation will be followed by a 10 AM service on February 28th, 2026, at the Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Following the service, the family invites all who wish to gather to a celebration of Carolyn’s life at the American Legion Hall on 31st St in Marion, from noon to 4 PM.

Carolyn was born on August 20, 1935 in Iowa City, Iowa, the third child of Mahlon and Frances (Aten) Steepleton. 

She was called to God at sixteen and entered monastic schooling at the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, determined to become a nun. God had other plans for her, however, when her cousin Loel introduced her to his friend Jerry Curtis. He visited her often, and her Mother Superior suggested she follow her heart and God’s Plan for her. The two later married where Jerry was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi on February 4, 1956.

Together they raised six children in Bushnell, Illinois, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, while Carolyn stayed home and Jerry worked as a truck driver after his discharge from his role as an air policeman in the Air Force. Later in life she became a CNA and worked the front desk at various hotels.

She and Jerry later divorced, but God again intervened and they remarried on their anniversary in 1984, and remained together when he died of metastatic melanoma carcinoma in 1986, leaving her a widow at 50.

Carolyn enjoyed board games such as Scrabble and Yahtzee, bingo, swimming, and riding the Amtrak to visit her grandkids. Some of her happiest memories involved her extended family in their annual picnics and Christmas parties. She was an exceptionally kind and warm woman, full of laughter. One of her favorite exchanges would always be to say “After a while, Crocodile,” whenever someone said “See you later”.

In heaven she joins her husband, Jerry Curtis; parents Mahlon and Frances; parents-in-law Thelma and Claire; sister Joyce; brothers Jerry, Jim, John, Joe, Stephen, and Pat; sisters-in-law Colleen and Maureen; brothers-in-law Ralph, Dick and Tom; and grandsons Joshua and Jess.

Left to grieve her memory are her children, Mark Curtis; Elaine Smith (Jerry); Patrice Curtis; Mary VanEe; Jim Curtis (Connie); and John Curtis; her grandchildren, Shawn Curtis; Kayla, Noah, and Elizabeth Smith; Michele Bell; Nicole Bell; Jerry Curtis; Hilary Weber; Isabella and Jack VanEe; and Derek and Tyler Curtis; her great-grandchildren, Dayton, Austin, Briella, Juliet, Wyatt, Conner, Liam, Garrett, Chandler, Baelfire, Colin, Duvlyn, Kohen, Claire, Amelia, Kimberly, Ripley, Peyton, Jaidyn, Rayleigh, Bayleigh, Skyler, and Jocelyn; her great-great-grandchildren, Arya, Leora, and Joshua; her sisters, Janet Metz, Joanie Fox, Julie Wilson, and Mary (John) Roemig; and her sisters-in-law, Rosemary, Bonnie, and Laurel Steepleton.

The family would like to extend their very deepest gratitude to all of the staff at Lexington Estates who made our last memories with her so very special.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a contribution to the Ronald McDonald House.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com