Curtis Carl Salow

Curtis Carl Salow

Independence

Curtis Carl Salow, 60, of Independence, IA, formerly of Earlville, IA, died on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, IA.

Curt was born on September 25, 1963, in Manchester, IA, the son of Harold C. and Mona L. (Grigg) Salow. He grew up with his eight siblings in Earlville, IA, and attended the Maquoketa Valley School District. While in high school Curt loved to play football and was given the nickname “Myrtle the Turtle.” He graduated in 1982 and went on to play football for a short time at the University of Dubuque. Curt was an avid sportsman and excelled at golfing, bowling, and shooting pool. Curt made many friends enjoying these sports over the years, and shared his love of golf with his grandchildren. Many memories were made on the golf course, which the kids truly cherish.

Curt worked as a bartender at the Party Bar in Earlville and developed many lifelong friends there. He held many professions in which he served his community such as a school bus driver and jailor at the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department. For over twenty years, Curt was a volunteer Firefighter and EMT with the Earlville Fire Department. In 1999, Curt started working at the Mental Health Institute in Independence. Curt was proud to serve AFSCME as President of Local 2987, and as Vice President of AFSCME Council 61; negotiating many contracts over the years and fighting for the rights of his fellow coworkers and Union members. Curt ended his employment at MHI in 2023, after twenty-four years on the job. He soon took a position at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo as a security officer, and worked there until his passing.

On October 4, 2002, Curt married Kym Suzann Noack, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Earlville, IA. On that day he not only became a husband, but also became a father to Ashley, Jennifer, and Jami. He provided stability and peace to his girls’ lives and loved being their dad. Curt reveled in spending time with his grandchildren, and to each he was important in so many ways. In the eyes of his family, Curt was truly the best man in the world and the biggest blessing his family had ever received.

He is survived by his wife, Kym Salow, Independence, his daughters; Ashley Sherrets, Manchester, Jennifer (Anthony) Ryckman, Cedar Falls, and Jami (Adam) Griffin, Manchester, seven grandchildren; Dahlia Ochoa-Sherrets, Oliver, Nolan, and Abram Ryckman, Arlo, Hayes, and Gabriel Griffin, six sisters; Barbara Cree, Manchester, Dawn (Wege) Lewin, Earlville, Vicki (Rick) Althoff, Strawberry Point, Mary (David) Pasker, Earlville, Ann (Fred) Davis, Earlville, and Becky Salow, Manchester, two brothers; Robert “Bob” (Susie) Salow, Earlville, IA, and Tim (Becky) Salow, Manchester, and many friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Curt is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mona Salow, father-in-law, Curtis Noack and brother-in-law, Fred Cree.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00- 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the Earlville Community Center, 120 Northern Ave, Earlville, IA. The Salow Family would like to invite everyone to wear their Kansas City Chiefs colors to celebrate Curt.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in his honor at Farmers Savings Bank in Colesburg, IA.

To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.