Funeral services for Curt E. Rehder, age 87, of Paullina who passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Accura Healthcare in Cherokee. His funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina with Rev. Donald Meyer ~ officiating.
Burial will be at Liberty Township Cemetery in Calumet.
Visitation with family present will be from 10 A.M. Saturday until the time of service at Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina.
Arrangement are under the care of the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.
Curtis Emil Rehder completed his journey here on earth on (month), (day), (year) at (where), reaching the age of 87 years, 5 months, and 12 days.
Curtis, the sixth child of Emil and Hilda (Jurgensen) Rehder, was born August 3, 1936, at Gaza, O’Brien County, Iowa.  He was baptized November 11, 1936, in the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Calumet, Iowa, and later confirmed his faith on March 3, 1951.  He attended school in Gaza through the fifth grade.  When his parents retired from the farm and moved to Paullina, he finished his education there and graduated from Paullina High School in 1955.  He spent one semester at Morningside College in Sioux City.
On June 24, 1956, Curtis was united in marriage to Betty Warnke at the Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina.  This union was blessed with four children.  The family farmed east of Paullina for many years.  In 1983, Curt became a livestock buyer with Brown-Goff Commission Firm of the Sioux City Stockyards.  He started his own order buying business, Rehder Livestock, in 1991 which continued through 2016.  He was a part time employee, driving gravel truck, for the O’Brien County Secondary Roads a number of years.  Total retirement brought he and Betty into Paullina in October of 2020 at which time he began his struggle with the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease.  
Shortly before marriage, Curt became a member of Zion-Paullina.  He served on the Board of Education at a time when his children were elementary students at Zion Lutheran School.  He was a charter member and officer of the Pairs and Spares church group.
Curt had a special love for horses and shared many happy times with his children while trail riding or in competition.  His affection for farm animals was evident in his daily activities; mainly to feed cattle.  A big part of his energetic adult life involved sports; bowling, golf, baseball and softball as a participant. He walked many country miles with his canine friend, Domino, visiting with neighbors along the way. As his family grew, he was an avid fan and “unofficial” coach of his children’s and grandchildren’s sports events.
The happiest times of Curt’s life were when he was surrounded by his family and friends.  He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 67 years, Betty;  his children, Jane Moore (Matthew) of Salado, TX; Jan Riedemann (Randy) of Paullina, IA; Jon (Marsha) Rehder of Sutherland; and James (Dana) Rehder of Waukee, IA;  grandchildren, Tera (Jason) Stubblefield, Tasha (Cullun) Robbins, Travis (Lauren) Graff, Lauren (Kevin) Curtis and Kevin Moore all of Texas; Eric (Jamie) Riedemann, Emily (Nathan) Jackson, Cody (Danielle) Rehder, Casie (John) Sievert, Courtney (Branden) Johannsen, Houston Rehder and Derek Logan, Bo Rehder, Kyle (Kylah) Petrich, Kody Petrich and Naomi Petrich;  great-grandchildren;  Bo, Bella and Bobby Stubblefield, Ashley (Blake) Fritsche, Blake and Addison Robbins, Penny Curtis, Kirstin (Case) Moermond, Brock, Boston and Brady Riedemann, Ryder and Reid Logan, Alba, Brooks and Creed Sievert, Gretta and Hazel Rehder, Archie and Quinn Petrich:  a bother-in-law, Arnie Hibbing, and step sisters-in-law Louise Harris and Ruth Wester, along with many other relatives, and friends.
Curt was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Burdette, sisters; Erma, Shirley, Margaret, and Ruby; brothers-in-law, Dale Perry, Edward Gerstandt, Eldon Miller, and Roy Ebel; sisters-in-law, Yvonne Rehder, sister-in-law, Jean Hibbing and step brothers-in-law Robert Harris and Jim Wester.