Koele, Curtis W. 1970-2013

KOELE, HEITMEYER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 1/14/2013 at 11:59:45

Curtis W. Koele
September 18, 1970 - January 7, 2013
Mr. Curtis Koele, age 42, of West Liberty, formerly of Hull, passed away on Monday, January 7, 2013, at his residence.
There will be a memorial service on Tuesday, January 15, at 2:00pm, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. Interment will be prior to the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull.
Curtis Ward was born on September 18, 1970, in Sheldon, the son of Clifford Keith and Sandra Faye (Heitmeyer) Koele. He was raised in Hull, where he attended the Hull Christian School and Western Christian High School. He graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center, with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and MIS and a minor in math.
He was diagnosed with a rare liver disease while attending college. He self educated himself in computer programming, starting in the fourth grade. He enjoyed working on computers and built a water cooled computer system for himself. After college, he was employed at Gateway out of Sioux City and then transferred to their Sioux Falls office, when that opened. He worked part time for Dordt, both during college and later as a Network Administrator, until his health worsened.
Curt was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull and showed his faith in Jesus Christ in many ways. He was a Cadet leader for the boys youth program for several years and served as president for this club. He was instrumental in building a computerized track for the Cadets’ pinewood derby contests, so the cars could be timed and the winner verified.
Curt loved his nieces and nephews and spent as much time with them as possible. He loved to share his knowledge and just be with them.
Even though Curt was unable to work, he felt his volunteer time was very important work for the Lord. Early in his life, he was a Modern Woodmen Junior Service Club leader for several years, doing fund raisers and visiting and helping people in need. After Curt moved to Iowa City, he was a security guard at Rockwell Collins in Coralville and volunteered with the Republican Party Committee. When he was unable to hunt and fish anymore, he joined the West Liberty Gun Club and enjoyed target shooting. Later he moved to West Liberty and became certified in several areas, so he could teach the art of shooting and gun safety. He held several positions on the gun club's board of directors. He taught 4-H shooting sports for several years and also enjoyed working with these boys and girls in teaching them safety and the sport of shooting. He wrote several grants to apply for financial aid for the 4-H and the gun club. He was treasurer for the local Friends of the National Rifle Association banquet fund-raisers.
Curt had a liver transplant on January 7, 2006. He suffered with his disease over most of his life and even after his transplant, he had many struggles. He persevered by helping others and looking to the Lord for wisdom.
Survivors include his parents, Sandra Koele and Clifford Koele, and his wife, Marlys; his brother, Michael Jon Koele, and his fiance’, Leann Lewis, and their children, Christian Curtis Koele, Justin Michael Koele, Jayden Rolling, and Jessica Lewis; and his sister, Jill Marie Koele, and her fiance’, Perry Siemonsma, and their daughter, Kirsten Faye Koele, all of Hull.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Tena Heitmeyer and Clarence and Mabel Koele, and a nephew, Dillon Hooyer.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Hull, IA., obit.