On Saturday, February 20, 2021, Curtiss (Curt) James Oakes, resident of New Lisbon, WI, passed away at the age of 64 at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Curt was born on July 28, 1956, in Cloquet, MN to George Malcolm and Shirley (Clark) Oakes. He graduated from Cloquet High School 1974 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of MN Duluth. Curt married Karen Harris McNeely on October 7, 1993 and they resided in New Lisbon.
Despite struggles and challenges, Curt faced life with a strong compassion for helping others, an ability to make people laugh and smile, and an amazing love and loyalty to family and friends. Curt felt his stepchildren, nieces and nephews, and their children were the children/grandchildren he never had. He enjoyed reading, music, sports, and the out-of-doors. Curt was tenderhearted, intelligent, friendly, and thoughtful. His sharp memory, his ability to make others feel special, and his caring, loving ways will be missed by all who knew him.
Curt was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law Kathleen (Harris) Duel. He is survived by his wife Karen Ann, two brothers Steven and David (Amy) Oakes, and one sister Jolene (John Altrichter), three sisters-in law Patricia Gesler, Sheila Harris, and Lisa (James) Burns, three brothers-in-law John Harris, James (Kathy) Harris, and Shawn (Eivo Guerrini) Harris, 4 step children Walter McNeely, Heidi (Brian) Coombs, Angela (Jerry) Sarazin, and Tim McNeely, 5 nieces Courtney (Ryan) Polster, Ashley (Tom) Sakash, Addie (Jeremy) Thimmesch, Jessica Oakes, Katie (Mike Bellefeuille) Pike, 4 nephews Mason (Britta) Oakes, Andrew (Taylor Staffon) Oakes, Kurt Altrichter, Royal Oakes, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life to remember and honor Curt will be scheduled for a later date. The Hare Funeral Home in New Lisbon is assisting the family with arrangements. Online guestbook available at www.harefuneralhome.com
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