Happy birthday, Mr. Amazing
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Elmer Currie holds his wife Bernie’s hand as he prepares to blow out the candles on his cake during a party Saturday celebrating his 99th birthday. Their kids are among the many guests singing “Happy Birthday” to their dear Pop. The kids, from left: Dave Currie, Rick Currie, Beverly Oliver and Ted Currie.
Birthday boy Elmer Currie winks at the camera Saturday as he and long-time friend Tom Lien have their photo taken by Currie’s granddaughter Crystal Scott. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Jennifer Currie wishes her grandpa Elmer Currie a happy birthday during a party Saturday. Elmer, a WWII veteran and former Kootenai County commissioner, turned 99 years young on Wednesday. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — World’s best husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather.
Diligent, hard-working, honest, humble.
Mr. Amazing. Pop.
Elmer Currie.
“He’s a worker. He’s always been a worker,” said Currie’s son-in-law, Bruce Oliver.
Oliver recalled working alongside Currie during a snowy winter similar to this one.
“He and I went shoveling roofs in ’81 or something, and he shouldn’t have been on roofs, but boy, he was right up there with me shoveling roofs.”
Oliver and a multitude of friends, family members, colleagues and others visited the Currie residence in Coeur d’Alene on Saturday to wish the much-loved Currie patriarch a happy 99th birthday.
“How beautiful is that? I have no desire to reach that age unless I’m still as stupid as I am right now and full of trouble,” Oliver said, glancing over at his father-in-law with admiration. “I’m so proud of him. He leaves quite a legacy, he really does. He’s an amazing man.”
Elmer and his wife Bernie warmly welcomed guests and caught up with waves of visitors they’ve known through their many years in North Idaho.
Elmer, a World War II veteran and former Kootenai County commissioner, smiled with every handshake and hug that came his way.
“He’s one of my role models,” said granddaughter Crystal Scott of Athol.
Scott, a nurse, said her grandfather really inspired her when he broke his hip at age 95 and made a full recovery.
“He had a goal, said he’s going to live to be 100, and he will live to be 100,” she said. “He’s just an amazing man and amazing role model to everyone.”
Bernie laughed as she remembered that Elmer had some competition when they first started dating.
She said she was on a date with another guy, and when the date ended, “he brought me home and Elmer was waiting for me.”
His persistence paid off — Elmer and Bernie have enjoyed 77 love-filled years of marriage, and counting.
“We’re blessed,” Bernie said. “Wonderful family, wonderful friends, wonderful neighbors.”
Party guest Tom Lien has known the Curries since he was a baby.
“A lot of years ago, my dad and Elmer had Lien Currie Construction. They were partners,” he said. “That was back in the late ’50s.”
He said the Currie family is incredible for the history and memories they’ve contributed to the community, “and to look at all of the things they have been involved in, all of the things they have done to help the community and individuals. You don’t see that kind of history any more. Very seldom.
“That’s history. It’s not history in the making, it’s living history.”
Elmer’s actual birthday was Wednesday, but for being 99 and a few days, he said he was feeling fine and strong.
“My kids still jump when I talk,” he said, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
“I’m happy to have a great family, that’s why I’m still here, because of my kids,” he said. “I raised them, and now they’re raising me.”