Curtis Emil Pearson was born July 28, 1940 to Emil S. and Edith J. Swanson Pearson in Red Wing, Minnesota.
He attended Burnside Consolidated School, grades 1 through 8. He graduated from Central High School in Red Wing, MN, in 1958 and from St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, in 1962 with a major in history and minor in German. He obtained a teaching certificate in 1964, after more courses at St. Olaf and began teaching at Jeffers, MN, in 1964. He attended and did post graduate work at the University of MN through an NDEA Institute in the summer of 1965. During the summer of 1966, he was accepted among 80 other German teachers to participate in another NDEA Institute through Stanford University to study German language and culture at the Evangelische Akademie in Bad Boll, West Germany.
On Dec. 30, 1966, he and Glennis Rasmussen were married at Jeffers, MN. In 1968 he accepted a teaching position in District 518 at Worthington, MN and taught German and American History there until his retirement in 1997. When Curt was not teaching, you could find him at his other job painting houses for others, or working outside on his acreage. After his retirement, he enjoyed spending time during the winter in Fredericksburg, Texas.
He was active in WEA, MEA and served on the SWMN Uniserv board. He was active in First Lutheran Church in Worthington as an usher, committee member, Bethel Bible Course teacher, church council, serving also as chairman of call committee. In Rochester, he joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 2013 continuing in the faith, which his parents had instilled in him as a young child.
Curt was an active member of the selection committee for the annual exchange student to Worthington’s Sister City, Crailsheim, in Southwest Germany. He served as president of Worthington-Crailsheim International Incorporated for four years and led many student and adult groups on trips to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He was a tireless advocate for the partnership that began as an outreach to Crailsheim after WWII, and this ongoing friendship was always near and dear to his heart.
In Worthington, he was a member of the Early Riser’s Kiwanis Club and served as president and Lt. Governor for MN – Dakota Region 6. In Rochester, he joined the Rochester Day Makers in 2012 and did many different service projects with this club. He contributed to a Hixon award with the Day Maker’s Club in 2014 and increased his contribution to the Eliminate International Kiwanis, to a Zeller Award and then a Diamond Zeller in 2016. The Eliminate Kiwanis project was designed to eliminate maternal neo natal tetanus in countries throughout the world. Curt volunteered hours of service through Kiwanis to park stewardship at Quarry Hill, being a reading guide at Ben Franklin, Pinewood, and Riverside Elementary Schools in Rochester. He also was a K-Kids liaison for the Day Makers Kiwanis at Riverside Elementary. He volunteered freely at Channel One and Christmas Anonymous. He rang the bell for Salvation Army and as a strong believer in their cause, he was a generous supporter. Also, he volunteered for Community Food Response collecting food and delivering to Bethel Lutheran Church for distribution to those in need.
Curt was proud to be a parent and grandparent. His family was very important to him and provided much joy to his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Miriam Johnston, and brothers, Emmett and Wesley. He is survived by his wife, Glennis, his son, Michael (Nancy) of Owatonna, and daughter, Tracy (Doug) Tollefson of Rochester, grandchildren, Emily and Megan Pearson, Matthew, Keira, and Cameron Tollefson), brother, Merle Pearson (Rita), and Philipp Rehberger (German exchange student who became like one of the family) as well as many other relatives and friends.
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