William Ellsworth “Bill” Curts, 85, of Chapman Lake in Warsaw, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at 10:55 p.m., surrounded by family. Bill was born the youngest of five siblings on March 4, 1934, in Cutler, to Clinton and Florence Jacobs Curts. After graduating from Camden High School, Bill enlisted in the Air Force, serving as a weather forecaster for 20 years. He was a proud veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He married Helga Rott on Jan. 11, 1969, at the Navy Chapel on Andrews AFB, Md. They later settled in Valparaiso and Bill began working for the IRS, which he retired from after 25 years. Bill attended night school for several years and earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1979. While visiting friends on Chapman Lake, Bill decided he would like to spend his retirement years there. Commuting back and forth from Valpo on weekends for two years, Bill worked tirelessly with a friend to turn a run-down cottage into a lovely place where he and Helga made their home for nearly 24 years. Bill was very active in North Webster’s American Legion Post 253, earning Legionnaire of the Year in 2016. He also was presented with a Quilt of Valor and participated in the Honor Flight with his daughter in 2018. He volunteered as a shuttle driver for the Legion and for DePuy for many years. Bill enjoyed boating, “piddling around,” coffee and drinks with friends, IU basketball, visiting his children and their families and travelling across the U.S. and the world with Helga. Bill is survived by Helga, his wife of 51 years; his children, Jennifer (Brian) Weith and Andrew (Sohee) Curts; granddaughters, Anna Weith and Lillian Curts; brothers, Richard and Jerry Curts; and many extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Mary Kleckner and Ruth Ferguson. A memorial service and celebration of life with military honors will be held Sunday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. at the American Legion Post 253 in North Webster. A meal at the Legion will follow. Arrangements are entrusted to McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. ***** Memorials to American Legion Post 253, 756 S. Ind. 13, North Webster, IN 46555. To sign the guestbook or send a condolence, go to www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
