Curtis Whitaker

Curtis Wayne Whitaker, 70, of Harbor Springs passed away peacefully at his home in Harbor Springs on Tuesday November 4, 2019 with Shirley, his wife of 50 years, by his side.

Curt was born on December 16, 1948 in Petoskey to Hattie O'Connor Whitaker and Robert Whitaker who preceded him in death.

He was raised on his parents’ farm at Whitaker Corners in Friendship Township and attended school in Harbor Springs prior to graduating in 1967. He later attended North Central Michigan College in Petoskey.

Curt accepted a job at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey in 1969 where he remained for more than 40 years. During that time he operated a mobile dialysis unit that took him around the state and later served as a Unit Coordinator in CVU prior to his retirement in 2010.

Later that year he became engaged to Shirley Penney and the pair remained in separable for the next 50 years. They were married on Dec. 20 1969 in Petoskey and returned to Whitaker Corners in Friendship Township where they built their home on the edge of Bob and Hattie’s apple orchard. Curt would spend the rest of his life trimming the grass around those trees with hand shears and fighting off invading woodpeckers.

Curt will be remembered for his gentle nature, his razor-sharp whit, his ability to carry on a conversation (a gift he inherited from his dad) and of course, that iconic beard.  He was brilliant, kind and creative and the living antithesis of the phrase “what you see is what you get.”

Curt is survived by his wife, Shirley; son, Nick (Carly Rowe) Whitaker of Harbor Springs, daughter, Tammy (Vern) Daily of Brutus; son, Mitch (Shannan) Whitaker of Cadillac; sister, Pam (Greg Last) of Cheboygan; sister, Kim (Dennis) Boynton of Harbor Springs; his beloved grandchildren, Jake Daily, Brenna Whitaker, Mason Whitaker, Sam Daily, Emma Whitaker, Sophie Whitaker and Owen Whitaker. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents. 

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, November 11th at Stutsmanville Chapel in Harbor Springs with Rev. Ed Warner officiating. A visitation will be at 1 p.m. prior to the services. Curt will join his parents at their family plot in the Friendship Township Cemetery.

A celebration of Curt's life will be held on Sunday Nov. 10 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Friendship Township Hall near the cemetery. The hall is located 3018 Beacon Hill Road in Harbor Springs.

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