Curtis, Leonard Myron (1912-1989)

CURTIS, FRANCE, BRADWELL

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/29/2023 at 11:39:46

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
Monday, March 20, 1989

Leonard M. Curtis, 76, Webster City, died Saturday afternoon, March 18 at the Veteran's Hospital in Des Moines, where he had been treated for cancer for three weeks.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 21, at 1:30 p.m. at the Foster Funeral Home, Rev. Charles Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Cass Center Cemetery north of Webster City. Visitation at Foster's is after 3 p.m. today.

Leonard Myron Curtis, son of Elmer Andrew and Myrtle France Curtis, was born May 11, 1912 on a farm north of Webster City and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1930. He attended The University of Iowa.

During the 1930s and 1940s, he umpired for the South Atlantic and Georgia-Florida Leagues before joining the American Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. He had attended baseball school in Hot Springs, Ark. In 1942, he joined the United States Air Force and served as a staff sergeant with the 498th Bombardment Squadron. During World War II, he served in the Pacific and in the Japan Air Offensive. He was decorated with the Bronze Star and Good Conduct medals, the Distinguished Unit Badge, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. After his discharge in 1945, he resumed his umpiring career for a short time before returning to Webster City and purchasing Hammer's Cafe.

He married Naomi Estelle Bradwell on Sept. 13, 1947 in Lake City. The couple farmed in the Mulberry Center Community of Blairsburg Township in 1950 and resided there until 1971, when Mr. Curtis retired from farming and the family moved to Webster City.

Mr. Curtis is survived by his wife Naomi, Webster City; son Leonard M. Curtis II, Iowa City; daughter Jane Curtis, Hartford, Conn.; and a nephew, Gary Curtis, Webster City.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Marvin France Curtis.

Mr. Curtis was a member of the Webster City Country Club, the Iowa Golf Course Superintendent's Association, the I-Club, American Legion Post 191, Webster City Moose Lodge and was a former Elk's Club member.