My father John "Jack" Dennis Curtin passed on from this earth on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Springfield Rehabilitation and Healthcare after less than two months' stay. He was at peace and comfortable, thanks to the teams' excellent care, and that of Haven Hospice. He passed while listening to our family band's sweet rendition of "Danny Boy".

Jack was born in St. Joseph, MO on December 29, 1927, making him almost 96 years old. His proud parents had two daughters before him, Kathleen (Mulkey) and Patricia (Bergeson) and they were pretty excited to have a boy, and I think they spoiled him rotten!

His entire family passed on before him, but they were very close. I never knew why they named him John, but never called him that!

Jack had to share a bunk bed with his old Aunt Hannah, and never forgot it. He went to grade school at Webster Elementary, and he and his buddies scaled the exterior brick walls at night and let their dogs in to explore.

They also played in a cemetery at night, until one dark gloomy night. They were confronted by the caretaker's wife dressed in white, and jumped down a 5 Foot wall. My dad sold ice cream bars from a local business while riding his bike.

Jack attended high school at Christian Brother's. After successfully landing a paper airplane in a brother's collar, he ended up changing schools and graduated from Lafayette High School.

Jack joined the US Navy during World War 2, and was assigned as a Pharmacist's Mate and ambulance driver at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. He received an honorable discharge at the end of the war in 1946. He received a second honorable discharge in 1951. My birth prevented him from having to go to Korea.

He met my mother, Mary Evelyn Halter, at The Frog Hop in St. Joseph. They were married September 1, 1947. Dad went to work for the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe railroad as a telegraph operator and dispatcher.

Dad and Mom must have loved babies, because they had three of us in three years. There was Johnny Patrick in 1949, Gerald Glen in 1950, and me, Nancy Curtin Ryan in 1951. Johnny passed away way too soon, in 1968, and Jerry died in 2018. Dad also lost my mother, Mary Curtin in 2003, twenty years ago.

Jack was encouraged by his father to move to California to join him in a profitable meat cutting business in Sunland, CA in 1950. We lived there quite happily until 1962. Dad was quite active in The Lion's Club. He and mom made many friends, and especially enjoyed square dancing.

Dad also discovered a lifelong passion, hiking and backpacking, especially in Yosemite. The conservationist John Muir became his hero. Dad took a large Boy Scout troop on a backpacking trip by himself, unheard of these days. He also taught his children love of the outdoors.

In 1962, he and Mom decided to escape the "drug culture" in California, and moved us to the Ozark Mountains. Dad had read so much about them in his coveted National Geographic magazines, after a summer of exploring opportunities, they moved to Forsyth and bought Shadow Rock Boat Dock.

Forsyth was the town that we would love for the rest of our lives. Bull Shoals Lake dried up for a few years and the boat dock caught fire in 1968, but Dad persevered and found other ways to support us. He cut meat, drove for Hiland Dairy, drove the school bus, and even cleaned parking lots until he earned his real estate license and was successful until retirement.

Dad always had time for fun and friends. He loved playing tennis, volleyball, camping, fishing, archery, bowling, canoeing, and even built a sailboat. He and his buddy Dr. William Roston flew Ultralight airplanes. He floated the Buffalo River with me and took me all over Missouri and Arkansas on his Yamaha motorcycle. He also took his grandchildren Kim and Nathan backpacking in Yosimite.

Dad was an artist, he loved to draw cartoons, painting landscapes, do wood burning, and stained glass. He also liked to work with wood. He built bookshelves, a crib for his grandchildren, benches, aquarium cabinets, remodeled his entire home, and created beautiful landscaping for it.

He wrote poetry, he played ukulele, harmonica, and was part of our family band, Chiggerridge.

Dad instilled the love of music in my brothers and me. We learned countless songs from him and all followed his footsteps in making our own music. He played harmonica at mom's graveside and my brother Jerry's funeral. At her request, he was playing the organ when she passed away. Her last words were "You're a good man, Charlie Brown!"

Dad was raised a Methodist, but became a Catholic when he married Mom. He was in the Knights of Columbus and as the oldest member of Our Lady of the Ozarks in Forsyth. He was a minister for a day when he performed an impromptu wedding ceremony for granddaughter Kim, and her husband Mario.

Jack is survived by myself, Nancy Curtin Ryan, his grandchildren Kimberly Zamarripa, Nathan Ryan, Jennifer Widner, Tracy Clark, and great grandchildren Makayna Ryan, Hailey Mouchka, Easton Widner, Cameron Clark, and Lakyn Clark, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements include a Celebration of Life in Forsyth Saturday, August 26th from 11am-2pm at the Empire Park Pavilion on Lake Taneycomo.

In St Joseph MO there will be a Celebration of Life on Friday, September 15, time and place TBD. On Saturday, September 16, there will be a short service in Mount Olivet chapel at 11:00 am, followed by a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, any donations can be made to Haven Hospice or to the Sierra Club.