Kleppe, Duane Thomas

Duane Thomas Kleppe, 53, of Waterloo, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, of natural causes. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, Salvation Army, 1000 B Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, with luncheon to follow. Arrangements are with Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories in Waterloo.

Duane is survived by his wife, Susan of Cedar Rapids; two daughters, Leah (Terry) Hartl of Cedar Rapids and Dawn Carpenter of Round Lake Beach, Ill.; five grandchildren, Shiann, Myah and Ashley Hartl, all of Cedar Rapids, and Kyle and Jena Swider of Round Lake Beach, Ill.; a great-granddaughter, Kayden Zimmerman of Cedar Rapids; his mother, Dorothy Kleppe of Waterloo; a brother, David Kleppe of Waterloo; a sister, Donna (Michael) Hammer of Independence; and two nieces, Rachel (D.J.) Main, and their daughter, Hailey, and Diana Hammer, all of Independence.

He was preceded in death by his father.

He was born Nov. 1, 1957, in Waterloo, the son of Clarion and Dorothy (Wander) Kleppe. Duane graduated from East High School in Waterloo in 1977 and began his own lawn care business that he ran for 10 years. In 1987, Duane began working for ServQuick Dry Cleaning, where he met Susan Carpenter. Duane and Susan married in Waterloo on Jan. 1, 1990, and they relocated to Cedar Rapids later that year. He remained in Cedar Rapids until recently when he returned to Waterloo.

Duane was a Salvation Army bell ringer for many years and enjoyed going to the Salvation Army facilities in Cedar Rapids. He loved to play video games and enjoyed watching sports. Duane was very fond of his family and loved spending time with them.

Memorials may be given to the family.

Condolences may be left at the website,

Published Oct. 7, 2011, in The Gazette