Lillian “Jon” Curler, 91, passed away on July 24, 2016, following a long bout with dementia.
She was the seventh of nine children born in Wausau, WI to William and Mary Buchberger. When WWII started, she went to work making raincoats for the war effort at a local factory, leaving when she developed “rubber itch.” After that she worked making parts for airplane engines. When the war ended, the military men came home. Through mutual friends, she met and married Marvin Curler in 1948. At the time, Marvin was employed as a painter for a company that serviced water towers and high lines. That required following the warm weather. So they purchased a 20’ trailer and travelled from the Midwest to Texas on a yearly basis. In 1957, Marvin joined his brother Howard Curler and Bob Woods in New London, WI, where they started the Curwood Packaging Company. Now settled in New London, Jon enjoyed bridge and golf and participated in activities at her church. They also had a summer cottage at the Waupaca Chain of Lakes, and eventually a year round home there. They were one of the first to venture south to the newly developing Cape Coral, FL, where they wintered for many years. As they got older, they decided to return to their roots in Wisconsin, first to a condo overlooking Little Lake Butte des Morts and then to Touchmark.
She is survived by Marvin, her husband of 67 years and their son Ray, daughter-in-law Suzi and grandsons, Kevin (Lauren) and Brian (Kim).
The family would like to send special thanks to the best caregivers ever, Connie Sherman and Dawn Malone for their true devotion to Jon and Marvin for the past 10 months and to wonderful people at Heartland Hospice.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at the Touchmark Chapel, 2601 Touchmark Drive, Appleton with Fr. Bill Swichtenberg officiating. Inurnment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Appleton. In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial gifts to Heartland Hospice, 1145 W Main Avenue, Suite 205, De Pere, WI 54115.