Obituary for Curtis Haskell Dittbrenner
Curtis Haskell Dittbrenner
Mark Twain said, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
At 7:20 pm on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, Curtis Haskell Dittbrenner took his last breath. He is a man that truly lived his life fully. He was a larger than life person, remembered by everyone who met him. He would walk into a room a stranger and come out with everyone remembering “that Dittbrenner.”
Curtis Dittbrenner was a storyteller who laughed loudly, sang badly, read and learned voraciously, and lived a huge life. He started his life journey in Washburn, WI, on August 27, 1942. He was the oldest child and only son of Eitel and Winifred Dittbrenner. He was joined by his sister, Mary Lynne a few years later. He graduated from Washburn, WI High School. He received a B.A. from Concordia College in Morehead, MN. He then went on and received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in British history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He started his career as an assistant professor of History. He then worked for Wood County, Wisconsin in the Emergency Government programs. He worked for American Express with Life Insurance and as a Securities and Insurance Trainer for Dearborn until he became self-employed. He ended his career as a part-time humanities professor at ECPI and Stratford University in Virginia.
Curtis married his wife Mary Louise Jepson on August 11, 1973. They were married for 45 years and had four children, Heather, Christian, Shannon, and Megan. They began their journey in Wisconsin where both grew up, but in 1987, the family settled into Manassas, Virginia. Since 2013, Curtis spent his final years in Gainesville Health and Rehab Gainesville, Virginia where he found a new audience to regale with his stories.
He had many hobbies including chess (where he’s been awarded and received recognition in the Washburn, WI newspaper), cribbage (except when he played with his wife where he ended a game with a board across the head), Hearts, reading history books, and exercising by riding his bike or walking all over town (even in over 100 degree temperatures).
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Winifred and Eitel, his sister Mary Lynne, and his son, Christian. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary, and his three daughters, Heather Kaiser, Shannon Hall, and Megan Dittbrenner, and four grandchildren, Joseph Kaiser, Leah Dittbrenner, Brennan Hall, and Ronin Hall.
The facts of a man’s life are never as exciting as the stories, and Dad, you had the best stories. You often quoted, “When I am gone, you will soon forget me.” To which everyone will reply, “Never.” You will be remembered and missed by everyone whose path you crossed. You are and always will be our Peter Pan, and you are now on “another awfully big adventure.”
Excerpt from a poem
My Dad
by: Heather Kaiser
My Dad is not like most people
He is my giant, my country, my novel my colors
He often sings
“When I am gone, you will soon forget me.”
To which I say, “Impossible!”
I will even proudly whisper
I am just like him
My Dad is not like most people
And for that I love him
The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 8th, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Baker-Post Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 10001 Nokesville Road, Manassas, VA 20110.
A Celebration Of Life service will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Please sign the guestbook at www.bakerpostfh.com.
Mark Twain said, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
At 7:20 pm on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, Curtis Haskell Dittbrenner took his last breath. He is a man that truly lived his life fully. He was a larger than life person, remembered by everyone who met him. He would walk into a room a stranger and come out with everyone remembering “that Dittbrenner.”
Curtis Dittbrenner was a storyteller who laughed loudly, sang badly, read and learned voraciously, and lived a huge life. He started his life journey in Washburn, WI, on August 27, 1942. He was the oldest child and only son of Eitel and Winifred Dittbrenner. He was joined by his sister, Mary Lynne a few years later. He graduated from Washburn, WI High School. He received a B.A. from Concordia College in Morehead, MN. He then went on and received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in British history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He started his career as an assistant professor of History. He then worked for Wood County, Wisconsin in the Emergency Government programs. He worked for American Express with Life Insurance and as a Securities and Insurance Trainer for Dearborn until he became self-employed. He ended his career as a part-time humanities professor at ECPI and Stratford University in Virginia.
Curtis married his wife Mary Louise Jepson on August 11, 1973. They were married for 45 years and had four children, Heather, Christian, Shannon, and Megan. They began their journey in Wisconsin where both grew up, but in 1987, the family settled into Manassas, Virginia. Since 2013, Curtis spent his final years in Gainesville Health and Rehab Gainesville, Virginia where he found a new audience to regale with his stories.
He had many hobbies including chess (where he’s been awarded and received recognition in the Washburn, WI newspaper), cribbage (except when he played with his wife where he ended a game with a board across the head), Hearts, reading history books, and exercising by riding his bike or walking all over town (even in over 100 degree temperatures).
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Winifred and Eitel, his sister Mary Lynne, and his son, Christian. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary, and his three daughters, Heather Kaiser, Shannon Hall, and Megan Dittbrenner, and four grandchildren, Joseph Kaiser, Leah Dittbrenner, Brennan Hall, and Ronin Hall.
The facts of a man’s life are never as exciting as the stories, and Dad, you had the best stories. You often quoted, “When I am gone, you will soon forget me.” To which everyone will reply, “Never.” You will be remembered and missed by everyone whose path you crossed. You are and always will be our Peter Pan, and you are now on “another awfully big adventure.”
Excerpt from a poem
My Dad
by: Heather Kaiser
My Dad is not like most people
He is my giant, my country, my novel my colors
He often sings
“When I am gone, you will soon forget me.”
To which I say, “Impossible!”
I will even proudly whisper
I am just like him
My Dad is not like most people
And for that I love him
The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 8th, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Baker-Post Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 10001 Nokesville Road, Manassas, VA 20110.
A Celebration Of Life service will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Please sign the guestbook at www.bakerpostfh.com.