Cornelius Joseph "Curly" Hauge

Cornelius Joseph “Curly” HAUGE, 98, departed this life Monday evening, March 6, 2017 in Auburn, Washington.

Curly was born in Halstad, Minnesota on December 14, 1918. He was the third of thirteen children born to Mary Catherine Byrne and Laurits “Louis” Hauge. His paternal grandparents emigrated from Norway in 1880, and his mother emigrated from Ireland in 1908. Curly lived in Norman County until The Great Depression.

At 16, Curly hopped a freight train in Minnesota and rode the rails to Washington State where he went to work for Libby’s cannery. A few years later, after the death of their mother, Curly’s eldest sister Catherine moved her family and their youngest siblings to Washington.

In 1942, Curly enlisted in the USNR serving his country in WWII. Meanwhile his two youngest brothers joined their elder siblings. Curly returned home and purchased a 1948 Buick after the war, which he used to fetch his youngest sisters from Minnesota. Their father was working long days.

Curly worked for United Homes before starting his own business as a residential developer and builder in Kent, Washington.

On August 19, 1950 Curly married the love of his life, Shirley Ann Furtwangler-Rogers. She was born September 19, 1926 in Seattle. Curly built a spacious family home in Auburn, Washington, where they raised six children and enjoyed over 58 years together.

Curly cared for his family and extended family, and contributed to church and community. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, K of C and B.P.O.E. He enjoyed cards and dice.

Curly is preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Mae; his wife, Shirley; his siblings, Catherine Lorenza, John Robert, Bertine Louella, Severn ‘Bud’ Bartholomew, Louis John, Andrew Le Roy, Hilda Mae Armstrong-Wolf, Neon Anthony, Florine Madonna Lee-Davies and Francis Leroy; his son Gregory Louis; and his daughter Sharlene Marie Reynolds.

He is survived by two sisters, Marvella Grady and Alice Thueringer-Meyers; four children, Curt, Vaunee (Steve) Birchler, Kim (Gerry) Crahan and Tori (Gary) Benzel. Also nine grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Both Recitation of the Rosary (Thursday evening, March 16 at 7:00) and Funeral Mass (Saturday morning, March 18 at 11:00) will take place at Holy Family Catholic Church, 505 17th Street SE, Auburn, WA 98002.

Lent is the season of “Bright Sadness.” In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you contribute to Food Lifeline (foodlifeline.org) or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).