CSC mourns former Eagle
Curtis Deines was a star for Chadron State football that was induced into the CSC athletic hall of fame in 2012 and was a big part of the Chadron community. On March 19, he tragically died.
Deines was born Nov. 10, 1968, in Torrington, Wyoming to parents Leonard and Janice Deines. He had an older sister, Staci John, who was one of Deines’s biggest fans, life-long friend, and eventually mother to his two nieces.
Deines was active through his childhood in Torrington, Wyoming, usually being on a sports team or outside playing with neighborhood friends. Through high school, he was a year-round athlete, participating in football, baseball, wrestling and track.
At Chadron State College, Deines was a rare four-year starter for the Eagles football team. He played as the center, snapping an estimated 2,800 times, and it was reported that he never missed a practice or game because of an injury or illness through his entire career with Chadron State. While on the team he played with Steward Perez, Don Beebe and David Jones, and his parents never missed a game.
CSC was also the location where he met his wife Sonya in 1988, and the two married Nov. 30, 1991, becoming nearly 30-years of marriage. Deines graduated with an education degree in 1996. Chadron was also where his children, Collin and KayLeah, attended and graduated from both Chadron High and CSC. He bonded with his children through sports. He watched his daughter marry and mother twins and his son swear into the Chadron Police Department as a police officer.
Since his football career, Deines began working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in maintenance before transferring into the train service as a conductor, and he was looking forward to retirement in seven years, finishing a 30-year career.
Deines was inducted into Chadron State College Athletic hall of fame in 2012 for football and athletics continued playing a major part in Deines’s life. He watched his favorite teams like the Denver Broncos, Wyoming Cowboys, and Huskers, and he watched his children participate in sports throughout their childhoods.
A private memorial service for Deines was held at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 27. Donations can be made online at www.chamberlainchapel.com.