Madlyn Curtiss
Madlyn Lucille Curtiss, age 83 years, passed peacefully, surrounded by her family, on October 21, 2014. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for 44 years and lived in ten different states and five years overseas during her husband’s career in the U.S. Army.
She proudly served as a homemaker raising four children, an Army wife serving twenty years, and her husband’s loyal assistant during his fourteen year high school teaching career.
Madlyn Curtiss was born on February 3, 1931, to Elmer Waller and Ella (Gilbo) Waller in Whitehall, Wisconsin. She married Lester Curtiss of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and they celebrated 65 Wedding Anniversaries.
Madlyn was the youngest of eight children and grew up on a Wisconsin farm her grandfather purchased when he emigrated from Norway. Later, her family lived in the villages of Hixton and Merrillan, Wisconsin, when her father became a foreman for the Green Bay and Western Railroad.
During her school years, she excelled as a band majorette, roller and ice skater, dancer, and in academics. Madlyn enjoyed cooking and had gifted culinary skills; other hobbies included dancing, politics, and reading. When her husband retired, they enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, to include spending winters as “snow birds” in their villa in West Phoenix.
Madlyn is survived by her four daughters: Candy Lanning and Dawn Bailey of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Heather Sperber of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Megan Willison of Los Angeles, California; her four grandchildren: Steve Lanning of Portland, Oregon, and Michael, Taylor, and Justin Sperber of Castle Rock, Colorado; and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Curtiss, LTC (retired), and granddaughter, Cherie Henley.
A Private Service for family members will be held in the future at Fort Logan National Cemetery.