Adored father and Papa, William "Bill" Dunham Curtis, 85, of Apple Valley, passed away on December 8, 2024, at Hastings Senior Living Center.

Bill was born on January 23, 1939, in Evanston, Illinois, to Paul and Dorothy (Dunham) Curtis. His childhood was spent in the suburbs of Chicago and on Manitou Island in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Bill graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1957. After high school he attended the University of Minnesota for two years and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity during his time there. He left school to build a successful 40-year career in the insurance industry, working for Wausau Insurance as a claims adjuster and later as the claims manager for their Twin Cities office. After retiring, he took his favorite job as a bus driver for ISD 196 where he worked for 10 years before completely retiring.

On September 2, 1967, Bill married the love of his life, Lola Olson, and together they shared 36 treasured years of marriage before her passing in 2003.

Throughout his life, Bill embraced a wide range of passions. As a young man, he loved water skiing on the lake where he grew up and enjoyed spending time with family and friends, whether hunting, golfing, or snowmobiling. He also pursued a pilot's license and spent decades involved in ham radio and computer clubs. As a lifelong football fan, he loved watching and cheering for his Minnesota Vikings. In his later years, Bill found great joy in his love of movies, amassing a collection of over 1,000 DVDs. However, his favorite pastime may have been shopping with Lola. Above all, Bill loved his family dearly and was proud to be a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Bill is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Lori Matson and Scott Kobasick of Loveland, CO, Kirsten Curtis and Jim Laitinen of South St. Paul, and Erika and John Hauschildt of Lakeville; his grandchildren, Morgan Matson, Paige (Tyler) Rudroff, Caden Hauschildt, and Bodhi Laitinen; his great-grandchild, Reese Rudroff; his siblings, Mike (Marsha) Curtis and Lee Kulbitski; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola; his parents, Paul and Dorothy Curtis; his brothers Pete and John; his sister Debra and his granddaughters, Ella and Emmerson Hauschildt.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday January 25, 2025, at 1 pm at Fairmont Avenue United Methodist Church, 1523 Fairmont Ave, St Paul, MN 55105. Visitation with the family from 12-1pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Cure Starts Now (www.thecurestartsnow.org)