Curtis Reiso, age 88, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Aug. 20, 2020, at Wellington Place in Decorah following a short illness.

Graveside Services were held Aug. 31, 2020, at Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Scarville, Iowa, with Pastor Dan Thurmer ‘66 officiating.

A Celebration of Life for Curt will be held at a later date.

Curtis Reiso was born June 24, 1932, in Forest City, Iowa. He spent his youth in Scarville, Iowa, where his parents, Seivert and Hannah Reiso owned the general store. He graduated from Scarville High School in 1950 and enrolled at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Curt always had an interest in music and at Luther was a member of the Nordic Choir (under the direction of his longtime friend and colleague, Weston Noble), and the Norsemen Quartet. Both organizations traveled extensively. Curt graduated from Luther in 1954 with a major in business administration. Upon graduation he joined the Luther College admissions staff for one year. He then entered the U.S. Army and was trained as a guided missile radar specialist. Following his training he was assigned to the 13th AAA Nike missile battalion.

Following military service, Curt rejoined the Luther administration. Reiso’s career as a Luther administrator included work in admissions, alumni relations, development and music. In 1957 he became associate director of development and manager of musical organizations. Reiso moved to the executive director of development position in 1963. In 1971 he was named associate vice president for development. Curt served the college under presidents J.W. Ylvisaker ‘21, Elwin D. Farwell and H. George Anderson, a period of stable and steady growth and change that saw Curt shepherding fundraising for the Field House, Valders Hall of Science, Preus Library, The Center for Faith and Life, several residence halls, and other projects. He was instrumental in expanding the reach of the college in alumni relations, public information, corporate and foundation activity, planned giving, and annual giving. He also established and served local development boards in major cities across the country.

He most recently served as coordinator of music activities, planning tours for the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, and Nordic Choir, including coast-to-coast and overseas tours of each organization. For 16 years he organized an annual joint concert of the Luther College Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra and Nordic Choir in the Twin Cities. Concerts were scheduled at Orchestra Hall, the State Theatre in Minneapolis, and the Ordway in St. Paul. Curt was a master of minutiae and logistics associated with the complex endeavors required to tour nationally and internationally with large groups of students, often transporting heavy instruments and other stage equipment. He became known for his loyalty to the students and faculty, and for his tenacity and creativity in handling the inevitable unforeseen complications that would sometimes arise. Over his career at Luther, he made 19 college-related and personal trips to Europe. Curt’s accomplishments include seven major capital fund campaigns and 86 concert tours with the choir, band and orchestra.

In 1994, Curt retired and was granted emeritus status. He spent his remaining years in Decorah, Iowa; Palm Desert, Calif.; and Deer Lake, Wis. He served Luther College for 40 years.

Curt was named a Life Member of Luther’s President’s Council in 2009 and received the Pioneer Memorial Award from the college in 2013. He received the Carlo A. Sperati Award from Luther in 2015. The Curtis Reiso Atrium in the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music is named in his honor.

While Curt has no surviving descendants, he leaves many dear friends among the Luther College family, many who watched over, and helped Curt in his later years, and who Curt came to regard as family. The feeling was mutual.

Casket bearers are James Wieme, Ken Knutson ‘62, Odell Bjerkness ‘56, Tom Murray, James Anderson and James Haemker ‘72. Honorary Pallbearers are Gary Embretson ‘59, Tom Peckham, Doug Eckheart and the Luther College Development staff.