John P. Curran

A Life Well Lived

John Patrick Curran, 80, of Omaha, Nebraska, was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He passed away November 25, 2023, leaving behind his wife Marilyn (Justice) Curran; his children John (Andrea) Curran, Tim (Margie) Curran, and Jeanne (Brett) Padgett; his grandchildren Lizzy, John, Tim, Ted, Sam, Jeremy, Sophia and Sean; and his great granddaughter, Cecilia.

John was born in Lincoln, NE to Maurice and Lorine (Ketterer) Curran.  The second of five siblings, John had his own paper route while he was in elementary school, and he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 14.  He attended St. Teresa School and Pius X High School. John enrolled at UNL in 1961 on an NROTC scholarship and earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering He graduated and was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy on June 4^th, 1966.  He married his high school sweetheart Marilyn Justice on June 5^th, 1966.

John and Marilyn moved to Pensacola, FL for John’s fight training. After attending Justice School in Newport, R.I., John was assigned to flight squadron VA 196 in Oak Harbor, WA. He completed two tours from 1968-1970, flying 168 missions during the Vietnam War. After a tour in Naval Intelligence at Ford Island, Honolulu, HI, John and Marilyn moved back to Omaha to be closer to family. There John served as a Naval reservist, achieving the rank of Captain. He was called to active duty again in the Persian Gulf War and served 8 months in 1990-1991.

John worked in the chemical processing industry, working for Quaker Oats Chemical, Great Lakes Corporation, and Penn Corporation. The later years of his career were spent working on several agricultural and renewable energy projects.  He earned his MBA at the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1981.

John and Marilyn had 3 children, John, Tim and Jeanne. He loved being a dad and was very proud of them. He cherished every bit of time he had to spend with them when they grew up and had their own families. 

Those who knew John best would say he was a strong family man. He was a faithful Catholic, serving as a lector, a sacristan, and as an “altar boy” at many funerals at St. Wenceslaus. He was proud to have served his country in the US Navy and was a patriot through and through.  He was president of his homeowners’ association and was an SID board member in his community.

John was an avid reader, loved to travel, and enjoyed all kinds of music, especially classical.  He had a mischievous sense of humor, liked to ride his bike, play tennis and pickleball, and enjoyed lunching with work and Navy friends. He was a huge Cornhusker fan.

John is also survived by his siblings Cay (Mike) Naughton, Mike (Linda) and Dan (Mary) Curran, and his sisters-in-law Carol Curran, Janet Marshall and Connie (Rennie) Walt. Preceded in death by his parents Lorine and Maurice Curran, his brother Tom Curran, his nephew Matthew Curran and his brother-in-law John Marshall, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 at 10:30AM at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.  Visitation Monday from 5:00-7:00PM, followed by a Wake Service at 7:00PM, also at church.  Interment with military honors at Omaha National Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to St. Wenceslaus, Wounded Warrior Project or Josie Harper Hospice House.