Curtis Trumbull Atkisson Jr.

Curt Atkisson passed away peacefully in his sleep of natural causes on July 19, 2025. He was lovingly attended to by his wife, Ann Benson, many of his children, grandchildren and the helpful staff at Spring Gardens Senior Living in Holladay, Utah. At age 91, Curt had lived a full, accomplished life in business, in service and as a father.

Curtis Trumbull Atkisson, Jr., was born to Konda Tanner and Curtis Atkisson, Sr., in 1933 in Miami, Florida and grew up in Florida and in the New York metropolitan area. He was a dedicated big brother to sisters, Konda Jean Matthews, Lauretta Larsen and Barbara Lambourne. Curt graduated from Ann Arbor High School and from University of Michigan with a bachelors in Industrial Engineering. After completing his 6 months of active service as an officer in the Army Ordnance Corps, he served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern California - Oregon mission. To his surprise, his family moved within the boundaries of his mission to Palo Alto, CA. Curt completed an MBA at Stanford University in 1963.

After graduating from Stanford, Curt met Mary Ann Maughan, who was teaching art as part of her Stanford masters program. The pair married in the Logan, Utah Temple, and soon moved from Santa Clara, CA, to Houston, TX, where Curt was transferred by FMC Corporation. This multinational employer would send Curt and family to 9 locations over 16 years. Houston was followed by 4 formative years in Cordoba, Argentina, followed by Concord-NH, Bellevue-WA, Tipton-IN, Brea-CA, Tupelo-MS and Zionsville-IN. He was the fixit person for FMC turning around unprofitable manufacturing businesses: agricultural & canning equipment, oilfield equipment, fire engines, air motors, conveyor equipment & chain rollers and pumps. Curt moved his family to Auburn, IN, to run pump company, Flint & Walling, for Thyssen-Bornemisza. Curt was then hired to lead the turn around of the nation’s 2nd largest school bus manufacturer, Wayne Corp, in Richmond, IN. Finally, Curt was hired as a Group Vice President at SPX Corp in Muskegon, MI, where he eventually became President and Chief Operating Officer of this 8,000-person company spanning operations in US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Japan. SPX was a public company with $1bn+ sales in auto parts, tools, window hardware and electrical.

Curt had a number of appointments and community involvements. At the University of Michigan, he served on the College of Engineering Advisory Council and a board member of the Institute for Research of the Automotive Industry. He served on the BYU Museum of Art Leadership Council and as donor, increasing its collection of contemporary art. Curt served as a Board Member of the Mormon History Association and helped publish his father’s 2-volume autobiography as well as biographies of H.S. Tanner and J.S. Tanner in partnership with cousin, Bill Tanner. Curt and Mary Ann were patrons of the Muskegon Museum of Art and were docents at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. Curt also volunteered for several years as an employment specialist for the Church employment centers helping many job seekers write resumes, network, and prepare for interviews.

Curt had ample opportunity to pursue photography as a hobby while traveling around the world for business or with family. He valued keeping in touch with life-long friends and relatives. Those who were around him often will recall his window rattling sneezes. Many were recipients of his generosity of time and means. Some of his favorite things were hosting parties, jazz, attending performing arts, ice cream, trains, reading, and daily buttermilk.

Curt served his entire life in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mother, Konda Tanner, was a lifelong member of the Church. Curtis Sr. was the son of a line of faithful Presbyterian ministers, who joined the Church when Curt was 16 years old. Curt served a second mission with Mary Ann in Puerto Rico. Also with the support of Mary Ann, he served as a bishop twice, as an elders quorum president twice, in a stake presidency once, as stake high council member 7 times, and in many other positions in congregations where they lived.

After the death of Mary Ann, Curt in 2014, married Ann Benson, widow of Lowell Benson, who had passed away in 2000. They enjoyed 11 years together full of arts, travel, sports, family events and keeping a home together in Salt Lake. Curt lost most of his sight several years ago from medication complications. Ann has been a constant companion with Curt all these years.

Curt is survived by his spouse, Ann Benson, and by his living children with Mary Ann Maughan: Jeanne (husband Steve Bilson and children, Laura, William, Brooke), Curtis (wife Nettie and children Annie, Spencer, Audrey), David (wife Connie and children Kayla (husband Dave Bogle and children Olivia, Henry, William), Kara (husband Jun Koo), Megan (husband Matt Powley), Ashlyn, Emily (husband Seth Gould), Valerie (husband Odie de Moura), and Michael (wife Kristen and children Greta, Peter, AnnMarie, Wynn).

Curt was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ann Maughan Atkisson and their oldest daughter Rosanne Atkisson.

Services will be held on Friday, August 1st at Larkin Mortuary (260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84111) at 2pm. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 12-1:45pm. Interment to following the conclusion of the service, at Salt Lake City Cemetery (200 N St E, Salt Lake City, UT 84103). Click the "Watch Service" button above to watch the livestreamed service.