Curtis G. Royer

Lincoln, Neb.

March 21, 1952 -Jan. 26, 2014

 Curtis G. Royer, 61 of Lincoln, Neb. died Jan. 26 peacefully at home after a long, courageous battle with cancer, with his beloved wife Amra at his side.

He was born on March 21, 1952 in Clarinda to Melvin and Lucille (Otte) Royer. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Clarinda.

Curtis lived with devotion and fully loved life until his last breath. He treated everyone with kindness and respect. Curtis enjoyed traveling, singing, fishing, golfing, hunting, and helping others, but most of all spending time with family and friends. Curtis attended Garfield Junior High and participated in 4H. He graduated from Clarinda High school in 1970 where he participated in football, basketball, choir. He also participated in band and was the drum major.

Curtis worked for Lewistons and Weils Clothing Stores in Clarinda, as well as the Iowa State Mental Health Institute. He began to develop an interest in emergency medicine and obtained a basic medical technician degree in 1974 from Iowa Western Community College. He went on to attend Missouri State University in Maryville where he also sang in the choir that spent a summer with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. After Iowa fire and scuba diving training, he was involved in local fire and rescue. Eventually he elected to go on to paramedic training at Creighton University, graduating in 1977. He continued his career in the St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Department, becoming Chief Paramedic, where he developed the first hospital based paramedic program, consulted for the first Life Flight helicopter program in Nebraska, and operated the first Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU). He was an EMTA instructor.

In 1989 Curtis graduated from the Physician Assistant program at UNMC Omaha, after which he continued on at St. Joseph Emergency Department. He was active in the Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants and was president of the Rural Health Caucus for the American Academy of Physician Assistants. In 1995 Curtis accepted a position with Norfolk Medical Group, which became Alegent Health, as a Family Practitioner.

While in Norfolk, Curtis was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, where he was active in the Choir and involved in Orphan Grain Train. In Sept 2001 Curtis participated in a mission trip sponsored by Orphan Grain Train to Sierra Leone. In 2002 Curtis accepted a PA position at St. Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Dept Lincoln until his health declined in 2011. He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Neb.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his lifelong partner and wife Amra; sister Linda (Jim) Sands from Clarinda; sister-in-law Senada (Bezo) Bejtovic; nephews Troy (Jenn) Sands from New Market, Todd (Karen) Sands from Georgetown TX, Amel Bejtovic from Lincoln, Neb.; niece Yasmina (Darek) Tyson of New York City; great nephew Brady Sands and great nieces Whitney and Sydnee Sands; Aunt Selma Werner in FL, Uncle Lowell Lines in Iowa and many cousins. Curtis will be cherished and missed by the Lauer family, his lifelong friends Deann, Bruce (Cindy), Arlene (Ann) Meyer and many, many colleagues, friends, and associates from St. Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department and Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha.

Memorials may be given to Messiah Lutheran Church in Lincoln or St. John's Lutheran Church in Clarinda.

Visitation was held Thursday, Jan. 30 from 4-8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Funeral Services were held Friday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 S. 84th St. Lincoln, Neb. Graveside service was held Friday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. at the Clarinda cemetery. Condolences online at roperandsons.com.