Eittreim, Curtis and Maxine (Rasmussen)

(Marilyn Eittreim)

Curtis Leighton Eittreim was born 19 Nov 1923 in Decorah, IA the son of Oliver and Mabel (Rohm) Eittreim. He attended the Decorah schools and graduated from high school in 1941. In high school he played trombone in the band and in the brass quartet. He also sang in the high school choir. Curtis was interested in science and won the Bausch and Lomb award. He was the lighting technician for several plays.

In 1942 Curtis entered Luther College. In addition to his studies he worked at the radio station with his father. He interrupted his schooling to join the Navy and was discharged in 1946. At the end of World War II he returned to Luther where he received his BA in 1948.

While at Luther College Curtis met Maxine Rasmussen who was taking elementary education courses. Maxine and Curtis were married 7 Nov 1948. They had 5 children: Cynthia L., Gary Lane, Craig Leighton, Kent Lauren and Todd Lee. Cynthia married Warren Anderson and now lives in Garland, TX. Cynthia and Warren have 2 daughters, a granddaughter and a new grandson. Gary married Cathy Kelly. They live in Apple Valley, MN and have 2 sons. Craig married Barbara Boch. They have one daughter. Craig and Barbara were later divorced and Craig and Linda Bodecker were married. They have 3 children. Kent married Debbie Kelly and they had 2 children. Kent and Debbie were later divorced and Kent married Joan Olson who had a son. Todd married Barb McKenzie who had 2 children.

Curtis and Maxine have been active members of St. Stephens Lutheran Church in West South St. Paul for many years. Maxine and Curtis both sang in the choir and at times Curtis directed the choir.

Curtis had many hobbies: craft work of all kinds, electrical projects, sewing projects and cooking and baking. His largest project was installing a pipe organ in his basement.

Maxine taught school one year in Hansel, IA, the same year Curtis' sister Marilyn taught there. (This was the year before they were married). Following their marriage Maxine worked for 15 years at Singers in St. Paul. In 1983 she became the owner of the Hastings Sewing Center in Hastings, MN.

Curtis died from an aneurism in 1974 and is buried at Ft. Snelling Cemetery. Maxine continues to maintain the Hastings Sewing Center.

Eittreim, Irving and Jean (Smithling)

(Marilyn Eittreim)

Irving Robert Eittreim was born in Decorah to Oliver and Mabel (Rohm) Eittreim. He attended the Decorah schools and graduated from high school in 1948. In high school he played French horn in the band and also played in the French horn quartet. To fill his free time he worked at the Coca Cola Bottling Plant. During the summers he delivered pop to the small towns surrounding Decorah.

Irving entered Luther College in 1948 where he worked as continuity director at the radio station while pursuing a physics and math major. He interrupted his studies to serve in the Navy as a Naval Aviation Electronics Technician. During a leave from the Navy in 1951 he married Jean Ann Smithling. Jean grew up in Decorah and attended Decorah High School.

Irving returned to Luther and graduated in 1956. He taught one semester in Viroqua, Wi. In 1957 he returned to Decorah where he taught math at Decorah High School until his retirement in 1993. As quoted from the DHS Viking, “Mr. Eittreim’s creative style of speech and dry sense of humor will be missed at DHS."

Since his retirement he keeps as busy as when he taught. He is treasurer of First Lutheran Church, he remains active in PDK, an educational organization, is treasurer of the Winneshiek Co. Historical Society and treasurer of the Winneshiek Co. Civil War Monument Restoration Project.

Irv's wife, Jean, keeps as busy as her husband. She was a legal secretary in Decorah for many years. Jean is an accomplished rosemaler and spends many hours in her basement studio in order to keep up with her customers’ orders. When she has any extra time she works on her various hobbies of Hardanger embroidery, crocheting, knitting and weaving.

Eittreim, Jean (Brown)

(Jean Brown Eittreim)

My name is Jean Vivian Brown Eittreim. I was born in Decorah, IA to Lloyd and Lily Brown. I married Orrin Eittreim, also from Decorah 19 Feb 1955 in First Lutheran Church. Our children are: Stephen , Julie , David and Daniel. Orrin was a pastor and I was a teacher and writer. We lived most of our lives in Minneapolis.

Born in Decorah just as the nation was pulling itself out of a great depression, I was the daughter of a school teacher and a man just going into business as an electrician. My grandparents, Julius and Emma Brown, and John and Ida Lee, along with lots of aunts and uncles all lived on farms and attended Washington Prairie Church. Summers for me meant the joy of staying a week or so at one farm after the other.