Curtis Wesley Larson
September 11, 1922 - June 21, 2010

Curtis Wesley Larson, 87, of Dakota City, NE passed away June 21, 2010 at his residence following an illness with pulmonary fibrosis.

Services will be held at 1:30 pm, Thursday, June 24th at the United Methodist Church, 1523 Locust St., Dakota City, NE with Rev. Joan Frenzel officiating. Private graveside services will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 23rd 6-8 pm at the Mohr Funeral Home, 1431West 29th Street, South Sioux City, NE.

Curtis was born on September 11, 1922, in Wausa, NE-the son of Kimbal and Esther Larson. He was hospitalized at age 6 with Diptheria. He graduated from Magnet High school and attended one year at Wayne State College.

He was a WW II veteran. He entered the U.S. Army from Cedar County, NE. in Oct. of 1942 and received basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas. He was sent to New Caledonia in early 1943, and then was sent to Guadalcanal where he joined the 35th Infantry, 25th Division (known as Tropic Lightning), Company B, Battalion 1. They were assigned to the Vella Lavella operations in the Northern Solomon Islands. In early January 1944 he arrived at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands and participated in the 165-day ordeal from Caraballo Mountains to Balete Pass.
After occupation duty at Nagoya, Japan, he arrived home in December of 1945 with a rank of Staff Sergeant.

Medals received include the Bronze Star; Purple Heart; Good Conduct; Asiatic Pacific with two battle stars; Victory; and Philippine Liberation with one star; plus the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.

He was recalled during the Korean Conflict and went to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin in Oct. of 1950. He served until August 17, 1951 as a Sgt. First Class, Cadres, Drill Instructor with the 465th Field Artillery Battalion, Battery C., training with eight-inch Howitzers.

He married Dorothy Brandow in 1948 at the Congregational Church in Hartington, NE.

He was a 15-year cancer survivor. He was a long-time member of the Dakota City United Methodist Church and served on the Board of Trustees. He was a former Scoutmaster of Cub Pack 151 of Dakota City. He served as Commander of Hanson-Greenleaf Post #376 American Legion and Ralph Beerman VFW Post #5332 in Dakota City. In 1953, he was a volunteer member of the Ground Observer Corp of the Air Defense Command. He served on the Dakota City cemetery board for 15 years. He designed and facilitated the construction of the brick entrance of the city cemetery.

He was a 63-year member of the Carpenter's Union Local # 984 in Sioux City. He began with his uncle, Frank Paustian Construction, and later with Chris Hansen Construction, and Bates and Abbott Construction. He was employed by A.C. Dohrmann Construction for almost 20 years where they built homes, churches, nursing homes, banks, and two house boats. Following retirement he did remodeling and cabinet work.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, of 61 years; two sons, Gary and wife Deb of South Sioux City; Dann and wife Kay of LeMars, Iowa; his four daughters, Joy Rutar and husband Frank of Omaha, NE., Kim Larson; Becky Grooms and husband Dale; Leah Spencer and husband John all of Lincoln, NE; two sisters, Mary (Jim)Omdahl of Rapid City, SD; Anne Danielson of Sioux City; his brother, Murray (Joan), of South Sioux City; brother-in-laws, Don Armstrong of Rapid City, SD; Dwight (Kaye) Brandow of Coleridge, NE; Ivan Brandow of Bloomington, Illinois; and David (Lanette) Brandow of Cadillac, Michigan. He also leaves thirteen grand-children and five great grand-children.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his baby sister, Carol who passed from Diptheria at 11 months; sister, Janie Armstrong; and a brother-in -law Robert Danielson.

Memorials may be directed to Dakota City United Methodist Church or Hospice of Siouxland.

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