Wilma Curtis

Wilma Curtis passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

Wilma was born Wilma Louise Plotner on July 9, 1930, in Bismarck, to Earl Plotner and Ola Anna Plotner. Wilma and her siblings grew up in a hardworking farm family. She was class valedictorian at Armstrong High School in 1948 and later that year married her high school sweetheart, Leland Mervin Curtis. After working as a secretary for several years, Wilma devoted herself to her role as homemaker and mother to daughters Judy, Jana and Jill. Wilma was also an active partner in the operation and management of her family’s small business.

Wilma enjoyed spending time with family at holidays, group camping adventures and cross-country road trips. She especially enjoyed camping weekends at Sunnyside, the family’s lakeside retreat near Danville. Wilma and her husband regularly visited family across the U.S. and traveled often to visit their children in Texas, Florida and Germany, where they enjoyed taking in the sights of Europe.

Widowed in Florida and on her own for the first time, Wilma built a new life for herself. She became active in her community and made many friends in her church and in local senior organizations. Later, Wilma and her children left Florida for Tennessee, where Wilma began again, buying a new home and finding friends in her neighbors and members of her church and senior center. Wherever she went, people were drawn to Wilma’s friendliness, sweetness and humor. Throughout her life, Wilma put her family first. She was caregiver to both her husband, Leland, and daughter Judy at the end of their lives, and Wilma did so with caring and without complaint.

Wilma lived in Illinois, Texas, Florida and Tennessee. She enjoyed country western music and Saturday night dances with her husband. She loved going to the beach and enjoyed shopping and movies with her daughters.

Wilma was preceded in death by her sister Norma Davis; daughter Janet Ellen Curtis; husband, Leland Mervin Curtis; and daughter Judy Ann Curtis.

Wilma is survived by her brother, John Plotner, and sister Carol Harrison. She is also survived by her daughter Jana Deming, son-in-law David Deming, daughter Jill Turriff and son-in-law Don Turriff.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 22, at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul. Burial of ashes of both Wilma and her husband, Leland, will immediately follow the service at Welles Cemetery, Penfield.

Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul, is handling the local arrangements.