Curtis Dean Ferneau (Ol' Curt) was born January 4, 1927, in Highland Township, Tama County to Glen and Marie Ferneau. He attended Tama County and Poweshiek County rural schools. He graduated from Grinnell High School in 1947. In October, 1950, he entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean conflict. Curtis married Betty Hunter on January 23, 1955 and they became the parents of four adopted children. Curt loved to hunt and he starting hunting and trapping as a young child. He was a very accurate shot. The 'Turkey Track' acreage in Missouri was Curt's hunting haven that was enjoyed by many. Curt visited his many friends while he was there, and he made new friends through hunting. Curt attended Sheridan United Methodist church for many years, teaching Sunday School for 40 years and doing several sermons. He was an avid reader, enjoying conservation articles, western books, hunting, and farming magazines. He wrote many memoirs of his life. Curt was an innovative farmer. He implemented what were considered cutting-edge farming practices, such as no-till farming. He was a salesman for Northrup King Company for 29 years, winning several regional and national awards. His self-proclaimed 'Bonus Years' were after Curt had life threatening meningitis in 1989. This left him so weak he had to quit active farming but gained a renewal on life. Those left to mourn are his wife, Betty, of 54 years; his children Kirk Ferneau (Leslie) of Grinnell, Heidi Ferneau of Grinnell, and Joni Ferneau Brown (Steve) of Lombard, Illinois; his eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; his 4 sisters, Naomi DeHart of Kellogg, Glenda Beaver of Bashaw, Alberta, Canada, Sharon Wassom of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Beverly Bryan of Newton, Iowa, and one brother David Ferneau of Malcom, Iowa. Preceding him in death was his son Jonathan, his parents Glen and Marie Ferneau, and his brothers-in-law Wayne Anderson and Ken Bryan. The family encourages friends to share memories and condolences with them on his obituary page by clicking on the button at the bottom of this page. Memorials may be designated to the Sheridan United Methodist Church or to Grinnell Regional Hospice.