TORRINGTON – Darrell Lee Curtis, 72, of Torrington, died at his home Saturday, April 26, 2025. He was surrounded by his loving family. He wrote his own obituary.
My name is Darrell Lee Curtis. I was born on February 19, 1953, at St. Benedicts Hospital in Sterling, Colorado to Randall Marvin Curtis and Erma lola (Ashby) Curtis.
I met my wife, Denise O’Hare Curtis at school in New Raymer, Colorado when three schools were consolidated. We were married August 26, 1972, in Sterling. We dated through high school and were married for 52 years.
We were blessed with two children, Dawn (Chris) Curtis Sobott of Loveland and Daniel Curtis of Wheatland. We had two grandchildren, Rachel (Tom) Sobott Haberman and Magnus Sobott and two great grandchildren, Thorin and Andromeda Haberman.
Denise and I enjoyed camping and traveling. We took several car tours around the United States and traveled to Ireland, Scotland, Germany, England, Austria, Italy, Canada and Mexico. I was blessed with a great wife and family.
I graduated from NJC with an AA degree and attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho and Boise State in Boise. My early jobs were just jobs, then in 1981, l was hired to the Sterling Fire Department. This became a career for me. I also taught classes for the American Red Cross and was an EMT, Engineer, Lieutenant then Chief of the Sterling Fire Department. I was nominated to run with the Olympic Torch in 1996. I was honored to serve the people of Sterling and Logan County. As I made a career of fighting fire, I chose cremation to let fire win for once.
Darrell is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister Vicki Gutierrez and brothers Randall Curtis and David (Donna) Curtis, O’Hare family, Karen (Tim) Pipp, Cheryl Keil and Steven (Gigi) O’Hare, mother-in-law Virginia O’Hare and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Dale and Anita Kohlschmidt, brother Cecil Curtis and sister Jackie Curtis, father-in-law Leslie O’Hare and brother-in-law, Scot Keil.
Memorial Service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 100 East 26th, Torrington, on June 6, 2025, at 1 p.m. There will also be a community carry in celebration of life at the O,Hare Ranch June 7, 2025, at 12. Please contact Denise for directions.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Gracie’s Promise, PO Box 1366, Torrington. This is a charity that helps families of children with long term illnesses or injuries. Or to Northeastern Junior College Fire Science Program, Northeastern Jr. College, Sterling Colorado to assist young men and women in the fire science program with needed, materials for practicum.
