Community hero

St. Cloud man has been committed to helping out

By Nikki Rajala

Curt Hutchens, 82, of St. Cloud, is an everyday hero. He quietly volunteers for causes from education and veterans to family and faith. The logos on his caps, t-shirts, and conference IDs —  American Legion Commander, Retired Educators Association of Minnesota (REAM), Veteran, AARP Minnesota, blood donation — show his dedication to these critical needs.

In high school at North Branch, Curt studied typing and accounting. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to storekeeping, managing equipment for the Great Lakes Naval Base — a role that fit his skills perfectly. When he saw needs, he found ways to help others, becoming deeply loyal to his fellow soldiers.

“Besides my regular duties,” he said, “three times a week, I’d deliver personal health or comfort items to guys in the brig — and twice a week to women in restricted barracks. The Navy helped me grow up and realize my life’s potential. After my military service I wanted to learn and become someone who helped family, community and country.”

Faced with reenlisting — and being sent far away — or settling down with Judy, the woman he loved, Curt chose college and the opportunity to build a life together with Judy. They married during his third year of studies, beginning a partnership that’s lasted 60 years, with three adult children and six grandchildren.

Curt enrolled at St. Cloud State College, majoring in elementary education. By his senior year, he’d completed all his requirements when a fifth-grade teaching position opened up at Washington School in St. Cloud.

“I was one of three teachers for that grade and my experience was wonderful. The following year, I moved up to sixth grade with the same great students. But my third year, the school consolidated to one sixth grade, and I was the only teacher. My 35 students came with diverse academic abilities and faced difficult challenges. That was the hardest time of my career.

“But it reinforced in me the kind of teacher and person I was meant to be. When minority families registered, I accepted those students. Now, I’m seeing them thrive, finding jobs and leadership roles in the community.” 

Among his favorite teaching initiatives: 

• Developing science fair projects.

In upper grades, his students became known for their understanding of the scientific method. One student, Princessa Van Buren, continued her research through high school, advancing to state and further. Curt chaperoned her to the National-International Science Fair in Birmingham, Alabama, where she earned second place.

• Organizing overnight environmental field trips. 

“Students needed practical skills that went beyond the classroom — using a compass and map, finding people lost at night, building campfires.”

• “Adopting” grandparents at a local nursing home.

His classes conducted interviews, shared activities and journaled about their elder partners; those inter-generational programs were recognized for their quality several times by the State of Minnesota.

After school, Curt coached soccer and track at elementary and high school. He noticed kids falling through the cracks, needing more support outside school hours but unable to afford YMCA or Scouting.

So, with the St. Cloud Jaycees, he spearheaded starting a Boys and Girls Club to empower youth with leadership opportunities and useful skills. With a sub-committee, he analyzed neighborhoods for at-risk youth and helped secure the first building. Then he volunteered with remodeling — but while painting high up, he fell on the concrete floor. Though sore, he taught school the next day.

“Now we have three Boys and Girls Club sites in St. Cloud, with after-school programming in every school to keep kids on a positive path.”

Curt dedicated 37 years to teaching. In the 1980s, he was selected as the St. Cloud Teacher of the Year and, the following year, a Minnesota Teacher of Excellence. He occasionally assisted St. Cloud Schools as acting principal.

In addition, he assisted fellow teachers — on negotiations teams and committees for legislative action and school policy with education associations at local and state levels. He served for 20 years on the Minnesota Teachers Retirement Board and for three years chaired a national council for teacher retirement, researching benefits and salaries nationwide.

“From those connections, I brought ideas back, like health savings accounts for teachers. Minnesota was an early state to implement them,” Curt said.

Outside the classroom, he was deeply involved in Scouting, from Cub Scouts to Eagle Scouts — the lead Scout Master for Central Minnesota Scouts attending a National Jamboree, on the leadership staff and a District Scout commissioner. Curt was honored as Scouter of the Year in 1985 for Central Minnesota.

Despite a full teaching schedule, Curt supported his fellow veterans, being active in the American Legion Post #76, Vietnam Post #290, W2C (Warrior to Citizen), St. Cloud Stand Down, the American Legion Eastern Stearns County Council, St. Cloud METROVETS and both the Minnesota State and National American Legion.

“Warrior to Citizen focuses on active veterans, helping to meet their individual needs, whether it’s gas money, home repairs, or holiday gifts for families. In St. Cloud Stand Down events, we provide supplies and services to homeless or needy veterans — food, shelter, clothing, health screenings and benefits counseling. They’re collaborative efforts to connect veterans with further resources like healthcare, housing, employment and mental health support.”

Last summer Curt helped deliver household items to Eagle’s Healing Nest in Sauk Centre, where veterans may stay as long as they choose. He also works with St. Cloud State University, which enrolls more than 500 veterans, easing their transition to academic life.

“At St. Cloud State, I advocate for support programs, one-on-one guidance and innovative housing solutions, like dedicating dorm space for veterans — a pioneering effort among colleges.”

His proudest accomplishment as Legion Commander was helping to establish River Crest Apartments and River Heights Apartments.

“Both offer safe, well-managed housing for veterans and other Central Minnesota residents — especially those struggling with chronic alcoholism or homelessness. Fellow board members and I worked with the St. Cloud City Council, engaging the community to ensure support for these facilities. One of my former students, Brian Newman, now serves as director.”

After 18 years of leading the American Legion Post #76  as Commander, he recently stepped down.

After retiring from teaching in 2005, Curt wanted to stay active. He and Judy bought a second home in Florida, where he enjoyed golf, shuffleboard and pickleball, until his arches prevented further play. Then he began woodcarving — and teaching it, now offering three classes a week in Gulf Coast communities.

For the past 17 years, Curt has helped organize an annual expo in Punta Gorda, Florida, bringing together carvers, turners, furniture makers, chainsaw artists and laser artists for hands-on classes, competitions and vendor events.

While in Florida, he continued focusing on his fellow vets, including their high suicide rates. Curt and his brother attended the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida, where the American Legion was a sponsor. Their motto — “Be the one” — meshed with his personal goals of making a difference. He also donates blood through the Minnesota Red Cross and First Blood in Florida.

He had learned about Purple Heart Honor Canes for wounded veterans or soldiers who were killed. Over 150 have been presented in Minnesota and Florida. For those who are eligible, Curt coordinates the work of others to create an Honor Cane for them.

“The St. Cloud Wood Turners make the staff, Wood Carvers make the eagle head and paint it, the name plates are engraved in St. Augusta, Ken Rambler furnishes most of the wood and I research the DD214 of each soldier for qualification and put the whole cane together.”

Curt realized that people in Florida didn’t understand the long-term effects of Agent Orange exposure, especially its inter-generational impact on children, so he brought brochures to educate them about potential concerns and available support systems for families.

And he didn’t quit focusing on educational issues while enjoying snowbird life. From serving as an acting principal, Curt saw education from a different side and became friends with school administrators. He wanted to reconnect through REAM, SCREAM, and AARP gatherings.

“All retired  teachers, principals, and superintendents — wherever they served — are part of Retired Educators Association of Minnesota and its St. Cloud counterpart, SCREAM. Our strong fellowship addresses big issues at meetings — legislative concerns, negotiations, teacher pensions, military matters, retirement, health. REAM and SCREAM fund educational programs and sponsor speakers, like Dave Kleis, St. Cloud’s recent mayor, discussing his travels, including a trip to Antarctica. Everyone who was in education are invited.”

At Peace United Church of Christ, Curt’s served for over 50 years, maintaining the grounds, serving as deacon, a Sunday school teacher, and on various boards.

“The book of John is quite clear that it’s not just white Caucasians who are important — it’s everybody. I appreciate our church’s inclusiveness — we share space with Higher Grounds Church of God in Christ (an African American church) and Lifeway Korean Church.  Soon we hope to offer daycare services for senior citizens, creating opportunities for social and cognitive engagement.”

Curt’s volunteerism is a model for us all. Why does he do it?

“Research shows that staying active and helping others leads to healthier, more fulfilling lives. I’ve been lucky for family and friends helping with these many positive endeavors over the years. I encourage everyone to choose their vision for their lives and remain active in healthy ways. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so don’t let grass grow under your feet.”

Note: The next REAM meeting is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 6 at Pizza Ranch in Waite Park.