Curtis A. Pearson

Curtis A. Pearson (Curt), born July 31, 1927, passed away on October 29, 2021 at 94, at his residence in Wayzata, Minnesota.

Curt grew up in Dawson and Madison, Minnesota, where he was captain of his high school basketball team and, as part of a lifelong passion about golf, he organized a high school league of schools for competitions.  As a teenager, he borrowed money to purchase some farmland near Madison and he later inherited the family homestead upon his mother’s death, and he retained ownership of and managed that combined land throughout his life.  He further remained connected with Madison by organizing the construction of a war memorial in town, and making contributions to funds for improvements to the municipal golf course and the local church cemetery.  

Curt enlisted in the United States Navy upon graduation from high school in 1945 and after his older brother had been shot down in his airplane in the Pacific in 1944.  Curt was granted an honorary discharge in 1946 to return home after his father passed away that year. 

Curt attended St. Olaf College from 1946-1948, and then transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a B.S. in History and Political Science.  After graduation, Curtis worked in the insurance industry by day and attended the William Mitchell College of Law at night, graduating with honors in 1955. 

Curt was married in 1952 to Ramona Peterson, and they purchased a home in St. Louis Park, where Curt served on the City Council from 1959-1960.  Curt and Ramona had five children who grew up in St. Louis Park: Charles (1954), Kurt “Chip” (1956), Mark (1959), Todd (1964) and Lizanne (1966).  Curt was an active member at Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park for decades.

In his private legal practice Curt represented numerous governmental instrumentalities.  Among other engagements, he was the City of Attorney for Brooklyn Park for 37 years and for Mound for 35 years, and he represented the Bassett Creek Water Management Commission before Congress and in connection with a $35 million flood control project.

In the 1960s, Curt helped establish the Minneapolis Association for Retarded Children and served as its president for many years.  He remained an enthusiastic donor throughout his lifetime to Mount Olivet Rolling Acres in Excelsior, Minnesota, which houses, educates, and trains developmentally disabled persons.

 In 1989, Curt and Ramona purchased a property on a championship golf course in Fort Myers, Florida for winter residence.  Throughout his life Curt loved golf, and he played thousands of rounds, a substantial number of which were in Florida in later life. 

Curt was preceded in death by Ramona (2014), and sons Charles (2020) and Mark (2016).  He is survived by Kurt, Todd (Melinda Greer), Lizanne Larsen (Scott), and six grandchildren.         

A memorial service will be held at Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Road at 2:00 p.m. on Friday November 5, 2021.  It will be a dual service, also remembering Charles Milton.  Masks are required by the church.  Service available via lifestream at https://www.westwood.church/watch-funeral. 

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