Curtis David LeMair, of Prior Lake, passed away suddenly in his sleep on October 17, 2018 at the young age of 18. Curtis had such a big heart and left a lasting impression on everyone he met. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 2:00 – 6:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation (4565 Pleasant St. SE) in Prior Lake. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 11:00 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM at St. Michael Catholic Church (16311 Duluth Ave SE) in Prior Lake. Father Mike Tix will preside, and Anthony Perez, Ian O’Connor, Patrick McKee, Luke Sexe, Jonathan Huss, Parker Huss, Gable Steveson, Sam Webster, Gunner Charbonneau & Tyson Rinaldi will act as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Northern State Wrestling Team, Prior Lake Wrestling team, Pinnacle Wrestling Club, all his coaches that have helped shape him into the man he was and finally all the opponents that he faced through his wrestling career. In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be distributed by Curtis’ family in his honor.
On February 11, 2000, Chad & Mona welcomed their son into the world. This was an extra special day, as it was Chad’s birthday. Curtis David LeMair came into the world with force. He weighed 10 lbs, 10 oz., had beautiful hazel eyes, and was all boy right from the start. Curtis loved growing up in Prior Lake with his mom and dad and sisters, Jenna & Rachel. Even more than his ability to tease and antagonize his sisters, was his true love and adoration for them. As a boy, Curtis spent lots of time outdoors. He was happy, active and into everything. He played rough and always had bruises and scrapes from his outdoor adventures.
Curtis had a deep and sincere appreciation for everything his parents did to support him. What he valued most was the time and love they invested in their son. It was not lost on him the countless hours his mom put into making sure he stayed on top of his grades and made it on time (and well prepared) for practice, matches, and tournaments. In Curty’s own words – he wrote in a gratitude journal, “I have wrestling practice every Sunday at Pinnacle Wrestling Academy in Shoreview. It takes about 50 minutes to get there. My dad sits there and waits 2 hours for me every Sunday. Then we drive back. I appreciate all the time he dedicates to my sport”.
Many fathers have commented how envious they are of the relationship he had with his dad. They were best friends. A really happy night for Curtis consisted of watching movies with them after enjoying a home cooked meal. “I watch my dad go to work everyday and because of that we have a roof over my head. I’m also grateful for the food that my mom makes for us. I realize that there are many people that don’t have a place to call home. They don’t even know when their next meal might come. It’s simple…I am lucky”. These are also his own words that he took the time to write in his gratitude journal when he was 14 years old.
His love of the outdoors continued throughout his entire life. Curtis was a skilled and avid hunter. He enjoyed hunting pheasant, deer and even bow hunting. He especially loved hunting in Hoven, SD. Curtis became a very skilled hunter in recent years and could hang, trap, gut and clean deer all on his own. Curtis frequently had a hunting sidekick, his beloved black lab, Abe. As a family, the LeMairs spent a lot of time at their cabin in Northern Minnesota. Curtis loved swimming, boating, extreme tubing and fishing on the lake. He had a beat-up, old pelican fishing boat that he loved. Curtis would wake up early in the morning, head out on the lake and enjoy the solitude while fishing. He’d also use his little boat to head across the lake to visit his grandparents at their cabin.
When Curtis wasn’t hunting or fishing, he was wrestling. Curtis began wrestling at age four and loved it from that moment on. He was a determined and dedicated competitor. Curtis made it to the state tournament four times and placed three times. Before every match, Curtis made the sign of the cross. Coaches, teammates and opponents would agree that Curtis set a wonderful example both on- and off- the mat. He was very proud that although he was a fierce competitor during a match, he could still be friends with the wrestlers from the other team. He had great respect for all the people he wrestled with and against over the years through Prior Lake High school, Pinnacle Wrestling Club and Northern State Wrestling.
Last spring, Curtis graduated from Prior Lake High School and began attending Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. He had so much life ahead of him, and his family knows that he would had done great things.
Curtis was a kind, caring and generous man. He was sensitive to the needs of others and would do anything for anyone. Curtis had a great sense of humor and a wonderful spirit. He treasured his family and his friends. If you had Curtis for a friend, you had a friend indeed. On October 17, 2018, Curtis died from an enlarged heart. He will always be missed, but his life has left a lasting an impression on all who knew him. He lived his life true to who he was and never wavered from his strong conservative values.
Curtis will be remembered always by his parents, Chad & Mona LeMair; sisters, Jenna & Rachel LeMair; grandparents, Greg & Sharon LeMair, Francisco (Cindy) Rivera, Leonard Prescott; great-grandmas, Beatrice LeMair and Bruna Longoria; other loving relatives and many dear friends. Curtis was greeted in Heaven by his grandma, Angela Prescott; uncle, David Prescott; aunt, Brooke LeMair; great-grandparents, Curtis Fanebust, Margaret Bly, Floyd LeMair, Robert Longoria, Jose & Josefa Rivera.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation proudly serves the LeMair family. www.BallardSunderFuneral.com
