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In memory of
Curtis Raymond Bartz Sr.
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In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to American Heart Association.
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Curtis's obituary
His time on his family farm led to a natural transition into military life after high school, joining the US Army where he would rise through the ranks to retire as Lieutenant Colonel after 27 years of service.
During his service in the army, Curtis traveled the world, having the opportunity to visit and work in places such as Busan, South Korea; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Fort Detrick, Maryland. The army provided him the opportunity to capitalize on his interest in animals and medicine, handing him the chance to study across the country, earning the following degrees:
- Bachelor’s in Pre-Medicine from Montana State University, 1965
- DVM from Washington State University, 1967
- MBA from Interamerican University in San Juan, 1977
- Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Texas School of Public Health, 1981
Curtis’s childhood on a farm and his love of animals developed into him setting up a large animal veterinary practice in Belgrade, Montana. Returning to the military, his work and research focused on his passions and he assisted in moving the virology world forwards with his work on vaccine development.
His research into AIDS at the University of Washington Regional Primate Center in Medical Lake, Washington was brought to an end when Curtis required a heart transplant, becoming the 100th patient to receive the procedure at the Sacred Heart Medical Center in 1994.
In his later years, Curtis once again found the opportunity to travel the world, this time for himself. He took in the wonder of the Coliseum in Rome, ventured the jungles of the Philippines, and went ice fishing in Finland. He explored riverways and lakes from Britain to New Zealand, always on the lookout for the best opportunity to go fishing.
In his death, he will join his parents, his two brothers, Sidney Bartz and Burton Bartz, and his third wife, Mina. Curtis’s three sisters, Gloria, Ardis and Eileen, his six children, CJ, Curtis Jr, Raquel, Petra, Ryan and Karina, and his large extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews will remember him and mourn their loss.
On Sunday, June 30th at 10 AM in Cle Elum, Washington, his ashes will be scattered in the river to be swept into the Pacific. On the same day, 11:45 AM, there will be a gathering of his family and friends at the Sunset Cafe, 318 E 1st St, Cle Elum, WA 98922.
The family asks that anyone wishing to honor the memory of Curtis donates to the American Heart Association, through whose efforts, along with the tireless work of the doctors and nurses at the Sacred Heart Medical Center, Curtis was able to live for another 25 years.
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In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to American Heart Association.
In lieu of flowers
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to American Heart Association.
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Created with love by
Karina Bartz.
