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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Carol (Raffin) Curtis, 85, of Iron Mountain, passed peacefully into God's hands on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Carol was born on Nov. 8, 1940, the oldest child of John and Irene Raffin. Carol was a lifelong "nort sider," residing on Margaret Street for 64 years. She was a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Church. Carol was a 1958 graduate of IMHS, and a 1975 magna cum laude graduate of NMU.
Carol began as a bookkeeper in 1959 at the age of 19 and followed the bookkeeping and accounting career path, opening Curtis Accounting in 1975 and operating until her retirement in April of this year. She also partnered with her husband Pete to form Adventure Sports in the '70s and '80s.
Carol was a charter member of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford area Zonta Club, serving as the club's first treasurer before advancing to vice president and president; then moving into district leadership as the Area 1 director for District 15 (1994-1996), lt. governor (1996-1998), and governor (1998-2000). Since her district covered the entirety of Michigan and portions of Ontario, Canada, she traveled frequently. Her gubernatorial installation was held in Paris, France, in a ceremony that installed just 31 District Governors globally. She was a member of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford club for 40 years.
Between her duties as Zonta District Governor and her personal travels, Carol was fortunate enough to visit more than half of the U.S. states, plus travel internationally to Canada, England, France, Australia, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and Austria. She often said that if someone would have told her she would have had the opportunities she had when she was younger, she never would have believed them.
Outside of Zonta, Carol enjoyed gardening, stained glass, and spending time with friends and family. If you knew Carol, you knew not to call her during a Packers game. You planned your costume for weeks before one of her and Pete's Halloween parties. She loved big dogs, especially German Shepherds, having several throughout her life. Her grand puppies Riley and Reggie were frequent companions.
Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Russel "Pete" Curtis; her parents, John and Irene Raffin; and brothers Robert "Bob" and John "Jack" Raffin.
She leaves her daughter, Marie (Kevin) French, and grandson Bryce French of Green Bay, Wis.; daughter Tracy (Sean) See of Iron Mountain; sister-in-law Barbara Raffin of Green Bay; sister-in-law Edith Kleiber Raffin of Gladstone; brother-in-law Dan (Diane) Curtiss of Harvard, Ill.; nieces Charlene, Renee, and Wendy; her cousins in the Gendron and Santi families; and many extended family members. She also leaves special friends Jeanne Allard Shaltz, Judy Jennings, Betty Elmer, Peggy Jones, JoAnne Helgren, Sue Youngberg, Joe and Tina Lerschen, Roger and Kathy Marinich, and many others.
The family would like to thank her Immaculate Conception friends, Father Mike Chenier, Father Mark McQuesten, and retired Msgr. James Kazmarek for their support; Bob Fuse and Tim Fornetti, who walked her to her car after Mass each week; and Donna Christy and Yvonne Fiorucci, who brought her communion when she could no longer attend Mass. The family would also like to thank Dickinson Marshfield Home Nursing, especially Faith Roell and the indispensable Perri Jacobs for their assistance.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home, 901 Carpenter Ave., followed by the Funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with Father Mike Chenier officiating at 11 a.m. A private family interment ceremony will be held at Fort Howard Memorial Park in Green Bay.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Immaculate Conception Church or the Monastery of the Holy Cross in her honor.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Carol Curtis online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.
The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.