Curtis C. Roseman

Curtis C. Roseman, 79, of Moline, Illinois, died Sunday, December 13, 2020, in UnityPoint Health – Trinity Rock Island, with his loving wife by his side.

Services to celebrate Curt’s life will be held Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, beginning with a hospitality luncheon from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. The family asks that all guests be vaccinated and wear masks.

Memorials may be made to the Moline-Mahaffey Fund at Augustana College or The First Bridge Fund at River Action in Davenport.

Curtis Charles Roseman was born February 3, 1941, in Moline, the son of Clifford Charles and Dorothy Marjorie (Johnson) Roseman. He graduated from Moline High School in 1959 and later married Joanne Darras, with whom he had a daughter, Suzanne, before separating. He then married Elizabeth Mercer on November 2, 1974, in Champaign, Illinois.

Curt earned a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He was a professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Southern California from 1985 to 2004, serving as Department Chair from 1985-1992. He also held appointments at the University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Kansas, University of Auckland, New Zealand, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

During his academic career, he did research in population geography, human migration, geography of ethnic populations, and the upper Mississippi River. He belonged to the Association of American Geographers and the Population Association of America. Among the many honors and awards he received over the years were the USC Community Service Award, the USC Faculty Volunteer Good Neighbor Award, Distinguished Scholar Award from the Ethnic Geography Specialty Group of the American Association of American Geographers, and a Fulbright Fellowship.

Curt was a prolific writer in both academic and public spheres. With colleagues, he edited or wrote nine academic books, eight popular and local history books along with numerous articles in academic journals and books as well as newspaper pieces. He supervised the dissertation research for 15 students who were awarded doctoral degrees and was a respected instructor at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

He enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, riding his bike, and playing racquetball at the YMCA. He also loved local history and gave walking tours in both downtown Moline and Los Angeles. He was an avid Ham Radio operator with call sign K9AKS. He was known to have a dry sense of humor.

Curt is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth; three children, Suzanne Badertscher of Joliet, Illinois, Charles Roseman of Champaign, Illinois, and Eric Roseman of Burbank, California; three grandsons, Tyler (Mallory), Chad (Riley), and Shane Badertscher; one great grandson, Tyler and Mallory’s son Elijah Badertscher; and siblings, Cynthia (Ray) Wright of San Francisco, California, and James (Barbara) Roseman of Moline. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.