Curtis William Gordon

2020-08-29T09:35:58-05:00
Navy Badge
  • Name: Curtis William Gordon
  • Location of Birth: White Bear Lake, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: August 27, 1924
  • Date of Death: March 22, 2009 (84 years old)
  • Parents: Ole Peter and Ida Gladys Gordon
  • High School and Class:
  • College:
  • Highest Rank:
  • Branch: Navy
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: September 9, 1941 (enlistment date)
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: October 26, 1945 (release date)
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    Curt enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and served in the Pacific Theater and in the Aleutians during World War II. He served on the USS Richmond and was in the Sea of Japan when the Japanese surrendered.


    Registration Card:
    Name: Curtis William Gordon
    Place of Residence: Box 182 Grand Rapids, Itasca, Minnesota
    Age in Years: 21
    Place of Birth: White Bear Lake
    Date of Birth: August 27, 1924
    State: Minnesota
    Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. C. P. Conway, Box 182, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
    Employer's Name and Address: Unemployed


    World War II Draft Card:
    Name: Curtis William Gordon
    Gender: Male
    Race: White
    Age: 21
    Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
    Birth Date: 27 Aug 1924
    Birth Place: White Bear Lake, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: 31 Oct 1945
    Registration Place: Grand Rapids, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Employer: Unemployed
    Weight: 185
    Complexion: Dark
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Brown
    Height: 6 3
    Next of Kin: C. P. Conway
    Household Members: Curtis William Gordon
    Relationship: Self (Head)

    V-Mail to C. W. Gordon
    2/C Seaman USS Richmond
    c/o Fleet Post Office
    San Francisco, Calif.
    From: Pvt Earl P. Gordon
    Hqs Btry 1st BN
    209 CA (AA) A.P.O. 700
    c/o PM N.Y.C.

    "209th Coast Artillery (AA)
    A
    Merry
    Christmas
    from
    Your Bro
    Earl"


    V-Mail from Curtis Gordon to Mr. O. P. Gordon at 825 Division Avenue in White Bear Lake, Minnesota from Curtis W. Gordon:

    "Dear Dad,
    I should write more often but there isn't much to write about. I made Carpenter Mate Third Class. I took my test Feb. 25, and pass it. My mark was 3.75, 4.0 is the same as 100%, so you can address my letter C.M.3/C instead of Sea 1/C. How is everyone at home. I hope you are all well. I am in the best of health.

    Hell-o Aunt Ida
    I would like to be home eating some of your cooking. We have good eats but don't compare with your cooking. Tell Cousin Josie Hell-o for me and the Hogan family, too.
    I will close for now. I going to write Raymond yet tonight.
    Your son
    Curtis"


  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Curtis moved to Grand Rapids, Minnesota as a child.

    After he was discharged from the Navy, Curt moved back to Grand Rapids where he worked for the Paul Lawrence Construction Company building at the Blandin Paper Company. When the building was finished Curt went to work for Blandin. He worked his way up in the company and retired as a supervisor in 1984.

    Curt married MaryAnne Grover in 1946. Later Curt was united in marriage to Phyllis Kannas who was by his side at the time of his death.

    Curt had an inquiring mind and was accomplished in all the fields he worked on. He could do plumbing, carpentry, electrical wiring and much more. In 1995 he became interested in local history and had compiled a library of over 45 three-ring notebooks with pictures, document, and writings

    He enjoyed gardening and grooming the back of his 20 acres, mowing trails for the wild animals that roamed there.

    Curt was an avid deer hunter with bow and rifle, and also enjoyed fishing, especially the fly-ins to Canada.

    Curt was preceded in death by his first wife, MaryAnne, infant son, Wallace, parents, three brothers, Raymond Gordon, Earl Gordon and Charles Conway, and one sister, Rosemary Frensko Holt.

    Surviving family includes his wife, Phyllis; two daughters, Gladys (Keith) Salthe and Susan Johnson; four stepchildren, Deb (Ted) Horton, Brian Kannas, Tim Kannas, and Barbara Arries; stepson, Bob Ward; fourteen grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren.

    Curt will be missed by "Fred", our 14 year old Golden Retriever mix, who Curt loved and was spoiled rotten, sleeping on our laps and in our bed.

    Curt had many special friends who visited and assisted during his illness; Darrel Lauber, Barney and Jan Bignall, Lance Labois, Gary and Ruth Burns, LeRoy Yelle, Frank and Pat Beatty, Keith Kackman, and his brother-in-law, Jack Makinen.

    Curt's granddaughter, Jessica Furey, helped to care for him during the last three weeks of his life, and another friend, Glenda Green, also assisted with his care. A special thank you to Hospice for the extraordinary care they provided, without who Curt would not have been able to remain in the home he loved.

    Curtis died at his home, surrounded by his wife and family, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He is buried in Itasca Calvary Cemetery at Grand Rapids, Minnesota. (no grave marker at this time)

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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