Dr. Noah Curtis Kimball Jr, MD, age 85, of Sterling, CO, died Thursday, February 24, 2022, peacefully in his home, surrounded by his loving family. Viewing will be held from 1:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, March 7 at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home with family to receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday March 8, 2022, at Christ United Methodist Church with Pastor Kristie Firme officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery.

He was born in his families' home, on February 11, 1937, to Helen Rilla Adams and Noah Curtis Kimball, Sr. in Canton, Oklahoma, population 774, at the edge of the dust bowl and towards the end of the depression.  His father was a farmer and owner of a cotton gin. Growing up, Curt participated in lots of activities including sports, 4-H and FFA. Even though Curt was expected to chop cotton and babysit his sister, Karen, he dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot in the Air Force like his two older brothers, Red and Dick.

After graduating as valedictorian of a class of 18 students, he completed the mandatory two years at Southwestern Oklahoma State University required to be accepted into the Air Force cadet program. However, with the call for more engineers and scientists in an effort to try to catch up to the Russian's space program, Curt decided to become an aeronautical engineer. After transferring to the University of Oklahoma, Curt, in his own words, "found engineering too difficult and started looking around for something easier." That's when he, "naively decided to study medicine". He was accepted into medical school and graduated in 1963. Curt started his internship in Phoenix, where he, also, met the love of his life, Judy Kimball. They then spent their only year apart in a 58-year marriage as Curt was drafted into the army serving as a doctor in Vietnam on January 13, 1966. He achieved the rank of Captain and earned the bronze star. After serving his first year in the US Army near Saigon, he spent a year in a military hospital in Yokohama, Japan. Back to Phoenix in 1968 to complete his 5-year surgical residency.

Curt and Judy moved to Sterling in June of 1970, thankful to find a small town to practice surgery. His partnership with Dr. James H. McKnight Jr. flourished and endured until Dr. McKnight's retirement. Dr. Kimball brought excellence to Sterling by continually attending conferences, assisting surgeries at award winning hospitals, and even purchasing equipment for new procedures.

His personable doctoring style was filled with humility, compassion and humor. And, sometimes, even counseling. His inquisitive nature, attention to detail and passion for fixing things made him an exemplary doctor. It was not uncommon for him to spend hours and days going through a patient's records looking for the best treatment possible. He was always accessible and approachable. Patients would call him at home, and he'd comfort them with his attentiveness. He also, loved making house calls. He would run into his patients around town, and with his mischievous smile would say, "Show me your scar!" It was not uncommon for Doc to admire his work at a Sterling basketball game or at Pizza Hut. You would know that Dr. Kimball was near, by his whistling. Through delivering babies (with at least one baby being named Noah Curtis) and comforting the families of terminal patients. He would remind his patients that "We all have a start date and an end date."

Curt's love for barbershop started in high school. Before being drafted, he sang tenor with The Western Continentals who went on to become International Champions while he was in Vietnam. He performed on the Jimmy Dean Show. He, also, started arranging music for barbershop, and many of his arrangements are still used today. When Curt and Judy came to Sterling, they brought their love of barbershop harmony with them. Dr. Kimball started and then for many years directed both the men's Centennial Chorus and women's Windsong Chorus, which is still going strong. Curt was a part of 4 district championship quartets.  Curt never did anything half-heartedly, and this included music. Curt was considered a perfectionist, which was sometimes exasperating to his friends and family, but we all knew that meant he believed in us, and it helped bring out the very best in all of us. Thanks to his ambition and passion for living life fully, many amazing memories have been created for all of his family and friends through music. He was known for being a trickster on stage, and his prat falls are legendary. When you got up on stage with Curt, you never totally knew what he was up to, so you just went with it.

Through singing, Curt met Judy Katrina Jeffrey from Lexington, NE, in Phoenix. They were married on August 15, 1964. Curt told his son-in-law that "marrying Judy was the best decision he ever made." Their marriage of almost 58 years was full of singing, laughing, traveling, church, tennis, and church stewardship alongside each other. The only time they would be at opposite ends of the house was during the Nebraska Oklahoma football games

Curt, "Eagle Eye", loved flying and old war planes. He generously gave Stearman and T-28 rides for local charities, performed acrobatics, and did fly overs for local patriotic functions. He gave Star Trek's William Shatner a ride, once, and would gladly fly you over your farm, and "buzz" your family, if possible. One of his greatest accomplishments was creating the St. Francis Fly-In which was held every year in June, for many years. We teased him that he lived by the quote, "I'm not perfect, but I'm a pilot, and that's almost the same thing." We are dancing with joy, knowing that Curt is breaking through the silver-lined clouds, soaring higher than ever before, performing acrobatics with the ease and grace of an eagle, and flying in formation alongside his brother, Dick.

A nyone who's been to a local auction knows what a collector Curt was. His love for tractors and stationary engines started at the age of 12, when his father taught him how to safely crank a 1937 Allis Chalmers. His parents purchased their first 1940 Philco free standing radio at a farm auction.

He saw his collections and the auctions not as acquisitions, but as stories that needed preserving and sharing. The best way to spend time with Doc and to get to know him was to talk about the how, what, where, and when of each radio, Corvair, tractor, truck, piano, engine, bazooka, Packard, Model T, etc. He frequently received calls from people knowing they had "just the thing he was looking for." He'd go to their house, and spend only a minute looking at the item, but hours chatting with its owner. Oh, we can only imagine the stories he's sharing now!

Curt's faith was strong, and we all benefited from it. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and served many roles, including being on committees, part of Methodist Men, singing in the choir, bell choir and helping wherever needed. His favorite committee was Trustees because he liked taking care of the church. Doc would like to let you know that his work here is done. We are all rejoicing for him and will join him when called. Curt is survived by his wife Judy; daughter Kristi (Garrett) Berry and grandchildren, Claire and Madeleine of Lexington, SC; numerous nieces and nephews, in Kansas, Georgia, Washington and Nebraska; and his brother, Wesley Dean "Red" Kimball of Kansas City, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Noah, and brother Dick and sister Karen.

Memorials can be made in Curt's honor to Christ United Methodist Church, 104 S 4th St, Sterling, CO 80751.