Curt Slabaugh, was the unofficial but, acknowledged, "Mayor" of Black River Harbor Village from shortly

after his move with his wife Betsy to the harbor after his retirement at age 55 as an elementary school

principal in Rockford, IL until his move again with his wife Betsy to the Westgate Assisted Living Facility

in Ironwood, MI in October 2022. Curt passed away at Westgate Nursing after a struggle with

Parkinson's Disease with Dementia. Curt was 91 years young. Dad, Husband, Grandpa, and Brother, he

had such a rich and full life that he self-published his autobiography in 2017. Many details of his life

were to be found therein.

Dad/Curt was born in Chicago, IL to parents Ruth (Bowman) and Glenn Slabaugh. He was the second of

six eventual sons: James (d.2024), Paul (d.2023), Richard (living in Spokane, WA with Wife Jannan), David

(d.2022), and Steven (living in LaGrande, OR).

Curt married Marcia A. Haney (d.2021) in August 1953 after she graduated from Manchester College IN,

in between Curt's Sophomore and Junior years at the same college, graduating in 1955. They produced

four children: Gary, Judy (living with husband Craig Baker in Arvada, CO), Bill (living with Wife Suzanne in

Clarksville TN), and Richard (d.1983).

Curt then joined the Army in 1956 for two years, serving at the Army Intelligence School. Curt taught

High School History for two years, Sixth grade for three years, and then became an elementary school

Principal for the remainder of his career until June 1988.

Curt married Elizabeth (Betsy) Isaacson in November 1971, being constant companions and enjoying an

enduring marriage of almost 53 years.

Curt fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a Pilot in 1976. He continued his flight training and

received his Instrument/Instructor rating, helping students in getting their Private Pilot licenses. He

partnered to purchase a four-place Grumman Traveler, a plane that took him, his family, and friends on

many wonderful adventures.

Curt was outgoing, gregarious, sociable, and friendly. He will be greatly missed by his family and many

friends. He enjoyed rafting, canoeing, hiking, snowmobiling, ATV riding, skiing, tennis, volleyball, and

croquet. One of his many labors of love was the hiking/cross-country skiing/ATVing/sledding/snow-

mobile trails he created behind his and Betsy's home on Black River Road, only one mile from Black River

Harbor on Lake Superior in Upper Michigan. Trails that will last until the Ottawa National Forest

eventually reclaims them. Curt even loved having a permit to harvest fallen trees, close to these trails,

hauling chunks of wood out of the forest using his customized ATV and using his hydraulic wood splitter.

Alas, all good things…the time finally came to replace the wood-burning stoves with a propane-fueled

furnace.

Six Grandchildren also survive Curt: Kristin, Jennifer, Josh, Vanessa, Katrina, and Jessica and

six Great-Grandchildren: Kaiya, Savannah, Braden, Phoenix, Lexi, and Tara, and numerous

Cousins, Nieces and Nephews.

There will be a visitation at Sharon Lutheran Church, 100 East Sellar Street, Bessemer, MI from 10:00

a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024, followed by a memorial service at the church.

Following the service, there will be a Celebration of Life/Send-off party in the Pavilion at the park

at Black River Harbor. Please come to share your memories.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the charity of one's choice in Curt's name.