Curtis James Casemier

Curtis James Casemier, 77, of Petoskey passed away peacefully at The Brook in Grayling Michigan on October 13, 2024 after a battle with Alzheimer’s. Curt was born on May 14,1947 in Grand Rapids to Kenneth and Virginia (Glanton) Casemier. Curt grew up in Holland Michigan until the summer before his senior year in high school when his family moved to Spencerville, Ohio. Curt graduated in 1965 from Spencerville High School and got a job drafting for BLH Corporation in Lima, Ohio. 

In December 1966 Curt enlisted in the Air Force. After basic training and school he was assigned to Glasgow AFB in Glasgow, Montana. After getting settled there he took a short leave of absence to go back home to marry his high school sweetheart Shirley Potts. They were married June 5, 1967 and spent their honeymoon pulling a U-Haul trailer from Ohio to Montana. They were there for a few months and Curt was assigned to Andersen AFB in Guam, fortunately Shirley was able to go too. Curt’s tour of duty ended in Guam and he was assigned to Plattsburgh AFB in Plattsburgh, New York.

Curt was discharged in 1970 and they moved to Dayton, Ohio. He decided to go back to school and enrolled at ITT Technical Institute in Dayton. Two years later they welcomed their daughter Wendy. Curt received a degree in tool and die engineering and was offered a job at a manufacturing company in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They enjoyed their time in South Carolina but missed the change of seasons and hunting and fishing. They decided northern Michigan would be a great place to live and raise their daughter so in April 1976 they moved to Petoskey, Michigan. Curt started out in insurance but his heart was in design and working with his hands. Curt got a builders license and started remodeling homes. He became a familiar face at Harbor Cove Condominiums in Harbor Springs, Michigan and spent most of his career there remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. Curt met so many wonderful people who started out as clients and became good friends.

Curt enjoyed simple things in life. He loved traveling, hunting, fishing and making memories with friends and family especially their grandkids. One of his favorite things to do was to go for a drive on a Sunday afternoon and find a wooded area where they could walk and let their dog run and explore. Quite often the drives would end up taking any two track he could find just to see what was at the other end. Sometimes they would discover a beautiful little lake they hadn’t seen before.

Curt loved fixing things and coming up with solutions for problems. He also loved helping people and found it hard to turn down one last job and retire. His memory will be in our hearts forever. Friends say his memory is in every part of their homes he has touched. Curt is finally retired now but I’m sure he is still checking to see if he can help with something. Rest in peace Curt, you deserve it.

Curt is survived by his wife Shirley; daughter Wendy Casemier (James Perry) ; grandchildren Brenden Grangood of Mt. Pleasant and Marley Grangood of Grand Rapids, two brothers Steve (Dianne) Casemier and Dave (Sue) Casemier all of Elida, Ohio. Several nieces and nephews and his beloved dog Molly IV. Curt was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in law Pam Casemier. A family memorial of Curt’s life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home.