While attending Austin Community College, Curtis played in the Minnesota All Star Football game. He attended NDSU and Mankato State on a football scholarship, graduating in 1982 with degrees in Industrial Arts and Special Education.

He married Karen Ginder in 1982 in Austin. They had a son, Jonathan. Curtis spent most of his adult life teaching and helping the disabled.

He taught special education in Gaylord from 1983 until 1987 before beginning a 14-year span as a special education teacher in the Austin Public School system.

On July 1, 1989 Curtis married Christal Pettit at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin. They had two children, Ashley and Colin.

He spent the last 10 years of his career teaching special education in Montgomery.

He coached varsity high school sports including football, basketball, track and cross country. After many years as a volunteer coaching youth sports, he was inducted into the Riverland Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Curtis and Christal recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Survivors include his wife Christal Barnett of Waseca; two sons, Jonathan Barnett of St. Louis Park and Colin Barnett of Waseca; one daughter, Ashley Barnett of Waseca; his mother, Marjorie Barnett of Cannon Falls; four brothers, Ronald (Janne) Barnett of Otumwa, Iowa; David (Pamela) Barnett of Motley; Arthur (Linda) Barnett of New Richland; Bruce (Shelly) Barnett of Waterloo, Iowa; sister, Sharon (Steven “Stub”) Noble of Cannon Falls; nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, William Barnett.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, July 25, 2014 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with The Reverend Ron Barnett and Todd Portinga, Associate in Ministry, officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment is at Oakwood Cemetery, Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.