Dorothy Elaine Curtis
Dorothy Elaine (Denker) Curtis comfortably passed away into the arms of the Lord at her home in Arvada, Colorado on Feb. 27, 2024, at the age of 91.
Dorothy was born Dec. 27, 1932, in Wauneta, Nebraska to Henry and Dora (Haarburg) Denker. Dorothy was the youngest of five children and was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Louie Denker and Wilbur Denker and her sisters, Edna (Denker) Einspahr and Alvina (Denker) Nordhausen.
Dorothy attended school at St. Paul Lutheran Church and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1950. Following graduation Dorothy lived in town and worked at Hoffs, the local drug store in Wauneta, operating the soda machine serving up yummy floats, malt shakes and desserts.
It was during high school that Dorothy met James Curtis at one of her softball games. Dorothy and James started dating and this would begin a lifetime of love between the two of them. Dorothy and James were married on Feb. 1, 1953, at St Paul Lutheran Church in Wauneta.
Shortly after getting married, James was drafted into the Korean War. Following his Military tour, they moved to Aurora, Colorado where they welcomed their first two daughters: Kim and Jana. Then in 1959 they bought a home in Arvada, Colorado which would become their permanent residence. There they welcomed another girl, Sandra and two boys, Chris, and Robert.
Dorothy’s husband, James Leroy Curtis from Imperial, precedes her in death, passing away on Feb. 2, 2007, the day after their 54th wedding anniversary. Dorothy was also preceded in death by her oldest daughter Kim Darice (Curtis) Kirchner who passed away in Oct. 2020.
Dorothy is survived by her children: Jana Sue (Curtis) Romero-Strickland, Sandra Kay Curtis, Chris James Curtis and Robert Henry Curtis; eight grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.
Dorothy was an amazing homemaker. She was a wonderful cook, making home baked bread and cookies and canned vegetables and jelly. Dorothy was a skilled seamstress making everything from children’s clothes, full length living room curtains, bedroom dressings and more. She was involved in her children’s school activities including bake sales, Field Day, to being a favorite crossing guard. Dorothy was also a softball Mom, bringing soda, snacks, and support to every game. She supported all her kids in every endeavor. Dorothy lovingly opened her home to the neighborhood kids and others who had no family to call their own. They all called her “Mrs. C.”
Once the kids were older, Dorothy became a teacher’s aide for several years.
Then in her later years, Dorothy joined her church’s charity, Orphan Grain Train for 16 years, collecting clothes and essential items sent to those in need. Dorothy realized the non-essentials were donated to the thrift stores, so with the help of involved volunteers, she developed and regularly held large garage sales at her home to raise money for Orphan Grain Train. Over a decade, the garage sales raised tens of thousands of dollars which was used for medical supplies, transportation of essential items and more.
Dorothy was cherished by her friends and family. The memories she made are imprinted in our hearts and will last our lifetime. It would take a novel to capture them all.
In honor of Dorothy, she would be grateful for donations to the charity she worked so passionately for: Orphan Grain Train P.O. Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702.