Curtis O. Frohrip

Curtis Owen Frohrip, 78, died last Friday, September 12 at Solvay House in Duluth. He fought a good fight for three months but when all resources had been tried, he died peacefully.

Curt was born on May 11, 1936 in Cloquet, the third child and only son of Roy and Sigrid (Hultberg) Frohrip. His early years were spent on the family farm north of Moose Lake. The family then moved to White Bear Lake where he attended school through the third grade. They moved back to Moose Lake and he completed school at Moose Lake. He was very proud of being a "Laker". He attended college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. In 1957, he enlisted in the Army serving until 1959. During his service, he was stationed in Munich, Germany during the Cold War. They were told they were the first line of defense if Russia ever attacked. After discharge, Curt returned to Minnesota and completed his Baccalaureate degree from Bemidji State University.
Upon return from Army, he came back to Moose Lake and worked at the Moose Lake State Hospital where he met a student nurse who became the love of his life. Curt and Natalie Kassube were married on July 28, 1962 in Wrightstown, MN and recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. They had four children - Michelle, Jay, Jon and Tim.

Curt's career included working as a Regional Area Vocational Manager for Rehabilitation Services with the State of Minnesota and retired in 1998 after 35 years.

Curt was a fun loving man and social butterfly. He loved visiting with friends and family. He was an athlete; playing basketball in high school and was part of The Whiz Kids softball team. He also loved to tell his doctors that he completed five inline skate marathons after having open heart surgery. In 1995 he was given a home brewing kit by his children and started the Fancy Moose Pub in his basement with his many collectible beer memorabilia items. After retirement Curt volunteered with many organizations including Moose Lake Historical Society, Moose Lake Kiwanis Club, Moose Lake Chamber of Commerce, Mercy Hospital Foundation, Moose Lake-Willow River Rebel football team, Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind, the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center, and the Northland Vietnam Veterans Association. In 2012, Curt and Natalie were named Grand Marshals of the Moose Lake Fourth of July Parade - the pinnacle of volunteerism. He will be missed by many.

Curt was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Sigrid Frohrip and his sister Mavis Striegl.

Survivors include his wife Natalie, daughter Michelle (Dan), sons Jay (Shelly), Jon (Jane) and Tim; sister Jeanne Ketchum; granddaughters Adrienne Zwickey, Caitlin Zwickey and Jessica McAllister and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Frohrip family would like to thank all the health care providers at Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake, Essentia Health-St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth and Solvay House of Duluth.

Visitation will be Monday, September 15, 2014 from 4-7 PM in Hope Lutheran Church, Moose Lake. Cremation will take place after the visitation and a Gathering of Family and Friends will be on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 from 10 am until the 11 am Memorial Service in Hope Lutheran Church, Moose Lake. Inurnment with Military Honors will follow the services.

Arrangements by Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake.