Dennis DeCurtins

Dennis J. DeCurtins, 60, died at 9:35 a.m. November 2, 2008, at St. Rita?s Medical Center, following a 16-month battle with Leukemia. He was born May 5, 1948, in Lima, Ohio to Joseph and Annabelle Carr DeCurtins, who preceded him in death. On April 25, 1970, at St. John Catholic Church, Lima, he married Teresa Helmig, who survives in Lima, Ohio. Mr. DeCurtins retired in 2007 as owner of DeCurtins Painting, a longtime contractor of Health Care Facilities Inc. He was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275 and Knights of Columbus Council 2661. He was a 1966 graduate of Lima Central Catholic High School. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, serving from December 8, 1967, to December 5, 1969, and received two Purple Hearts. He came from a long line of architects, builders and painters. When he returned to Lima, he resumed what would be his lifelong career in the family painting business alongside his father. He would later run that business for 30 years. He was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed watching tennis. He loved spending time with his friends, family and grandchildren. Survivors also include two sons, Brett J. (Annemarie) DeCurtins and Jon A. (Alysha) DeCurtins, both of Cincinnati, Ohio; three grandchildren, Maxwell DeCurtins, Cecelia DeCurtins and Jack DeCurtins, all of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a fourth due in December; two sisters, Debra (Dr. Mike Davis) Locke, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Mary Jo (Dick) Stewart, of Lima, Ohio; three brothers-in-law, Denny & Polly Helmig of Lima, Ohio; Brent & Marsha Helmig of Lima, Ohio; Carl & Dawn Helmig of Lima, Ohio; a sister-in-law Connie & Jeff Partee of St. Marys, Ohio; his mother-in-law, Maxine Helmig, of Lima, Ohio; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Catholic Church. The Revs. Tim Kummerer and Stephen Blum will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemani Cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 1275. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, where a wake service will be held at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to The Gerad Foundation, 803 W. Market St., Lima, OH 45805; or Lima Central Catholic High School, 720 S. Cable Road, Lima, OH 45805. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.