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Duane Freese
DUANE FREESE
Monticello
Duane G. Freese, 82, of Monticello, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello, where a parish vigil service will be at 3 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello, with burial in the church cemetery. The Rev. Paul Baldwin will officiate and the Monticello Drill Team will accord military honors.
Duane was born Sept. 8, 1931, on the family farm just north of Monticello in Lovell Township and grew up there with his three sisters. He attended elementary school in the one-room schoolhouse across the road from his home and graduated from Sacred Heart High School.
After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army but returned home to take over the family farming operation when his father passed away in 1953. On Aug. 12, 1954, he married the love of his life, Jeanette Greif, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan. They farmed together and raised their children on the farm which has been in the family since 1894, spanning four generations.
Duane is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette; his children, Lisa (Lawrence) Zangs of St. Paul, Minn., and Shawn (Carla) Freese of Monticello; grandsons, Tyler (Bailey) Freese, Jared Freese, Ian and Brendan Zangs; granddaughters, Jamie (Ryan) Wurtele, Nicole and Brooklyn Stark; great-grandchild, Kayden Wurtele; sisters, Joyce Gassman and Janice (Don) Knapp; sisters-in-law, Theresa (Richard) Stevens, Elodie Greif, Rita Greif and Lois Greif; and brothers-in-law, Joe (Jean), Earl (Velda), Arnie (Betty) and Louis (Marcie) Greif. He also is survived by special family friends, John and Patricia Black and their children, Maria and Carlos.
He will be reunited in heaven with his parents, Josephine and Gerhard; sons, Patrick, Jeffery and Joseph; a sister, Jean (Clarence) Hosford; and in-laws, Robert (Alvina) Greif, John Greif, Loras Greif, Fay Greif and Paul Gassman.
Information available and condolences accepted at www.kramer funeral.com.
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