Kasper, Duane E.

Duane E. Kasper, 76, of Iowa City, died Friday, March 26, 2010, at home following a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, with the Rev. Judy Gingerich officiating. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Wednesday until service time. Burial will be at a later date.

Duane Edward Kasper was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Johnson County, to Elmer and Mary Hurt Kasper. He was a graduate of University High School. In 1953, Duane joined the U.S. Army, where he spent 1 1/2 years playing clarinet in the First Infantry Division Band.

Duane married Joyce Malmberg in 1956. They later divorced. In 1966, he married Mary Bekker Edwards. They have been married for 43 years. While attending Iowa City Commercial College from 1955-56, he worked at Kresge's and was later employed   at Novotny's Cycle Center until 1982. While at Novotny's he started a string instrument repair shop in his home. He made four violins, one of which he played during his band years. Duane retired in 1995 from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he worked in the medical records department as a medical records clerk.

While in high school Duane and his brother Glenn organized and played in a band called the Mule Skinners. This led him to play with many area country western bands, including Frank Buhr, Orley Workman, Carroll Chipman, Laverne Miller, Dave Dighton, Jerry Beauchamp and Tom Hofer. He played clarinet, saxophone and the fiddle. He played for 49 years and was known by his nickname, “Duke.”

Duane had a great love for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, mushrooming, gardening and caring for his roses. Duane had an interest in art since his childhood and started oil painting after retirement. His paintings included landscapes, wild life and florals. Many of these paintings are in the homes of family and friends. He also had a great love for fireworks and was a licensed pyrotechnician. He took classes on firework safety and building, and taught classes on safety for several years. With friends, he built shells and mines which were used for a fireworks show for family and friends on the Kasper farm every year.

Duane was noted for his friendliness, good humor and love of life.

Duane is survived by his wife, Mary; sons, Dean (Paula) Kasper of Lone Tree and Alan (Sabrina) Kasper of Bruce, S.D.; daughter, Elaine Kasper of Iowa City; stepson, Bryan Edwards of Coralville; stepdaughter, Brenda (Chris) Lehman of Peoria, Ariz.; two brothers, Glenn (Pat) Kasper of Oxford and Virgil (Darlene) Kasper of Tiffin; 13 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or Mercy Hospital Foundation for cancer care.

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