Curtis W. Van Allen, age 97, died peacefully in Kenosha in the presence of members of his family, on January 21, 2015.  Curtis was born in Fond du Lac on November 26, 1917, son of the late Lester F. and Gertrude (nee: Washburn) Van Allen.  He was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and Wautoma.  As a young man he was a recreational pilot and played the trumpet in a jazz band.  At a band performance in 1946 he met Veda Esther Eskritt; they were united in marriage in 1947 in Amherst, WI.  The couple moved first to Chicago and then to Racine, where Curtis worked for several years for Walker Manufacturing Company.  Thereafter, he was hired by Stewart-Warner Corporation in Chicago, and began a career with that company that led to a position as Director of the company's European headquarters in Harlow, Essex, England, where he moved his family for four years in the early 1960's.  After returning to the U.S., the family again became residents of Racine and members of Christ Church United Methodist.  Back in the U.S., Curtis became Vice President and General Manager of International Operations for Stewart-Warner, where he worked until he retired in 1985.

Curtis is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife, Veda, of Racine; sons John A. Grimm of Montgomery, MN and Curtis Van Allen II "Skip" of Germantown; daughters Janice Olson of Sioux City, IA, Nancy Van Allen of Plymouth, MI, Peggy (Lance) Anderson of Bloomer, and Jacalyn Van Allen of Burlington;  grandchildren Brock and Shane Peterson, Devon (Anthony) Bell, Alyssa and Alec Venable, Kyle, Tyler and Madison Van Allen, and Paula and Jeff Grimm; also three great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.  Curtis was preceded in death by his parents and by sister Helen Rasey and brothers Melvin Van Allen and Bill Van Allen.

A graveside service will be held in Plover, WI at a date to be determined.