EUGENE FLOYD "JIM" "IKE" CURTIS passed away with his wife, sons and daughters by his side at a hospice facility in Valparaiso, IN on the evening of April 30, 2015. He was born on July 5, 1931 on Parke Street in East Gary, Lake County, IN.


His loving wife of 64 years, Doris Jean Curtis (Pruitt) survives him. They met on the corner of Central & Ripley at Meister's Drug Store, East Gary, IN, and they married on November 25, 1950 in Glen Park, IN to begin their beautiful family.


His loving family includes the following: Daughter Karen E. Curtis of Lake Station, IN and granddaughters, Amanda Cunningham and Monica Greene of Flower Mound, TX. Son Michael G. Curtis and wife Lorrie (Campbell) of St. George, UT and grandson Chad M. Curtis of Santa Monica, CA. Son Marshall G. Curtis and wife Patricia (Essary) and granddaughter Jennifer and husband Eric Stafford all of Hobart, IN. Daughter Kaleen Follow (Curtis) and husband Dana of Portage, IN and grandsons Justin Follow of Denver, CO and Jason Follow of Ft. Meade, MD. Daughter Kimberly E. Gubricky (Curtis) and grandchildren Kaylee and Zachary Gubricky all of Hobart, IN. Also, there are nine great-grandchildren and countless members of extended family that he loved and who loved him very much.


Preceding him is granddaughter Rachel A. Underwood, grandson William "Billy" Holtzman, and great-grandson Angel. Also, preceding him is father Floyd Daniel Curtis, mother Mamie Reich Curtis, brother Robert Dean Curtis, and many others of his fine family generation.


Eugene served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fleigerhorst Caserne Stuttgart, Germany, and he had the honor of serving at West Point 1954-1955. He was an active member of the Masonic Lodge 741 in Portage, IN and the American Legion Post 100 in Lake Station, IN. He was employed at the Merchant Mill at US Steel as a millwright with USW Local 1014 serving over 33 years and retiring on April 30, 1984.


Ike's heart went out to helping people with their struggles, especially his neighbors. He was always working in his garage building and tinkering his whole life. He loved mowing his woods on the block of St. Joseph Ave. & Rush Street that had been in the family for over 100 years. We can't say enough about the wonderful love he gave to his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and extended family and friends.


His services will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2015 from 2-4PM at Rees Funeral Home, Hobart , IN (600 Old west Ridge Rd). Please join our family in his remembrance services at 4 PM on Sunday. Burial of cremains will take place at McCool Cemetery at a later date.