Curtis was born on June 28, 1926 in Spring Grove, Minnesota to Edgar and Cora (Brunsvold) Wennes. He attended school in Hesper, Iowa and Mabel, Minnesota, graduating from the Mabel High School in 1944.
On September 28, 1947 Curtis married Sylvia Wirth at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church in Highlandville, Iowa. Following their marriage, they lived in the Hesper/Mabel area and wintered in the Mesa / Gilbert Arizona area.
In 1951 Curtis started Wennes Truck Line with two straight trucks and four trailers. In 1958 he purchased property on Highway 44 in Mabel which became the North Star (gas station) and Country Side Inn (restaurant).
Curtis enjoyed watching and going to NASCAR races around the United States. He later raised Welsch Ponies and enjoyed having them in parades in the tri-state area in the summer/fall and in Arizona in the winter.
Curtis died peacefully on Monday, September 10, 2018 at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, at the age of 92.
Curtis is survived by his wife of 70 years, Sylvia; daughter Connie (Jag) Amdahl of Fountain Hills, Arizona; sons Randy (Julie) Wennes of Cresco, Iowa, and Tony Wennes (Charlene Selbee) of Hesper, Iowa; grandchildren Tracy Kruse, Tim Wennes, Anita Elco, Terri Huish, Sarah Wennes, Kristen Wennes, Josh Wennes, and Taylor Blaess; ten great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a son Gary Wennes, and a grandson Curt Wennes.
Funeral service will be 1 PM, Saturday, September 15, 2018 at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa with Rev. Matt Larson officiating. Burial will be in the church Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 PM Friday, September 14th at the Hesper Lutheran Church and on Saturday on hour prior to the service.
Memorials are preferred to the Hesper Lutheran Church.
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