Obituary

Duane was born on August 15, 1939 to Gottlib Kilber and Edna (Hofer) Bauer in Ipswich, South Dakota. Duane spent the first 11 years of his life in Roscoe, South Dakota. In 1950, he moved with his sister, Karen, and mom to Zeeland, North Dakota. Two more sisters (Janet and Jaci) were born to Edna and Jacob C. Bauer on the family farm near Zeeland. Duane graduated from Zeeland High School in 1958 and attended Community College in Ellendale, North Dakota. During college, he briefly taught school in the one room schoolhouse near the family farm. In 1961, he entered the military and was active duty in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, until 1963. After he was honorably discharged from the military, he worked with his aunt and uncle in Washington State for a short time and then came back to Zeeland to farm with his dad, Jacob. On August 4, 1973, Duane was united in marriage with Joyce A. Weisenburger. Duane and Joyce were blessed with three children, Nichole, Michael, and Heidi Jo. In 1974, Duane and Joyce took over the family farm working the land for the next 28 years. During this time, Duane was active in the Zeeland community, sitting on the church board and Zeeland School board. In 2002, Duane and Joyce retired from farming and became Snow Birds in Mesa, Arizona where they resided every winter. In his retirement, Duane enjoyed 4X4 trail riding in the Arizona mountains, riding his motorcycle, 2:00 pm coffee with friends, and spending time with his five grandchildren. Duane is survived by his wife, Joyce of Mesa Arizona, daughters Nichole (Mike) Fitzpatrick, St. Louis MO, Heidi (Waylon) Ohlhauser, Hague ND, and son Michael (Shawna Dschaak) Kilber, Lincoln ND. Three sisters: Karen Hughes, Enderlin ND, Janet (Ron) Silbernagel, Silom Springs AK, Jaci (Hal) Michel, Larkspur CO. In-laws: Bruce and Melba Weisenburger, Eureka SD. Duane is survived by five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Duane was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law Jacob C. and Edna Bauer, Gottlib Kilber, Nathaniel and Elsie Weisenburger, and brother’s in-law Virgil Weisenburger and Dennis Hughes. A memorial service will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Zeeland, ND in the spring of 2022.