A service to celebrate the life of Curtis Flak will be held at the Hesper Lutheran Church, Hesper, Iowa with Pastor Matthew Larson officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 30, 2013, at 12:00 noon and will be followed by the service at 2:00 pm. Burial will be in the Hesper Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Curtis Raymond Flak, 87, of Hesper, Iowa, died Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Curtis was born on August 9, 1925, at home in Hesper Township, Winneshiek County to Iver and Alisa (Salveson). He was a lifelong member of the Hesper Lutheran Church where he was baptized, confirmed and married.
He graduated in 1944 from the Mabel High School in Mabel, Minnesota.
On April 10, 1949, Curtis was united in marriage to Anita Olson. To this marriage they were blessed with four children. They made their home on the Flak family farm.
Curtis farmed his entire life as well as being an area manager for Vigortone livestock feeds for 20 years.
While a member at the Hesper Lutheran Church he was a Church Council Member, participated in the Church Choir and was also on the Church Cemetery Board. Curtis also enjoyed singing in the annual Hesper Cantata.
Farming was his lifelong occupation which he was able to help with through this past fall. Curtis enjoyed the daily 3:00 pm lunch breaks at his home with his two sons and at times other family members. In the summer months he enjoyed sitting outdoors on the deck along with his devoted dog, Sam. They were totally inseparable and Sam helped fill an empty void after the death of his wife on December 22, 2005.
Curtis was a devoted husband to his wife Anita. He cared for her at home up until the time of her passing. They shared 56 years together. Together with his wife, he learned how to bake pies and make lefse. Pie baking became a real skill for him and he enjoyed sharing his baked goods with others.
Mr. Flak is survived by two daughters, Cynthia (Jay) McLaren of Rochester, Minnesota, and Maribeth (Rob) Orth of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, and two sons Duane (Lorna) Flak of Decorah, Iowa, and Dale (Cathy) Flak also of Decorah, Iowa; twelve grandchildren, Jami (Sarah) McLaren, Alex (Julie) McLaren, Brian (Lisa) Orth, Christopher (Cari) Orth, Jennifer Orth, Benjamin Orth, Jessica Orth, Kristen Flak, Jena Flak, Tessa Flak, Abby Flak, and Tyler Flak; four great grandchildren, Abigail and Andrew Orth, Eleanor McLaren, and Eli McLaren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Anita, his brother Justin Flak and Justin’s wife Emily.
The family and friends of Curtis extend their deepest gratitude and thanks to the staff of St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, and also to the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa, for their excellent and professional care. |
