John Joseph Curtis Jr. , 75, Minot and longtime Minot State University professor died on Wednesday, January 23rd in a Minot Hospital.

John was born on November 10, 1932 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to John Sr. and Marie (Luebstorf) Curtis. He was raised in Watertown, WI and was active in Boy Scouts, speed skating and football. John served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Lieutenant. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota. He graduated "Cum Laude" in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and English. John attended graduate school in American Studies at the University of Minnesota and Duke University. He taught high school English in Forysth, Montana from 1963-1964.

John began his teaching career at Minot State College as an instructor in the Division of Literature and Language in 1964. He became an assistant professor in 1965 and was granted tenure in 1970. He taught American Literature and English composition and regularly contributed to the Humanities Seminar Series. John served as president of the North Dakota Education Association in 1977. He retired from Minot State in 1995.

John married Emmeline Heat at the Congregational Church in Williston, N.D. on February 15, 1969. Their daughter Jennifer was born in 1970.

As a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ John sang in the choir, participated in the Men's Club and served on the Church Council. He was a Boy Scout troop leader and served as the director of the state Boy Scout Camp at Lake Metigoshe in the summer of 1974.

John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and landscape photography in the Rocky Mountain West. His interest in history led to a collaboration with Dr. Paul Morrison of Minot State on a manuscript, "The Law North of the Deadline: The Dodge City Gang 1875-1885." He was twice a guest lecturer at the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in Cody, Wyoming. He frequently participated in historical reenactments and black powder rendezvous gatherings.

John was preceded in death by his parents He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Emmeline; daughter: Jennifer (Graham) Allan of St. Paul, MN; grandson: Robert Allan; brother: Tom Curtis of Minneapolis, MN; nephew: Charles (Carol) Curtis of NY, NY; niece: Susan (Jeff) Mayer of Canon Falls, MN; nephew: George Curtis of St. Paul, MN; sister: Mary Lynn (Jerry) Blasena of Cape Coral, FL; niece: Sandy (Ed) Adkins of Ft. Myers, FL; nephew: Steven Levin of Minneapolis, MN; Cousin: Jack (Mary Ann) Melloh of Brookfield, WI; and special friend: Dr. Harris (Sharon) Jensen of Fort Collins, CO.

Funeral: Monday, January 28, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. in Congregational United Church of Christ in Minot
Internment : Rosehill Memorial Park in Minot.
Visitation: Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home
Memorials : Preferred to Congregational United Church of Christ Choir or the Kidney Dialysis Unit of Trinity Hospital.