Duane Freese

MONTICELLO, IOWA Duane G. Freese, 82, of Monticello passed away peacefully on Saturday August 16, 2014. Friends may call from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello where a parish vigil service will be held at 3:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Paul Baldwin will officiate and the Monticello Drill Team will accord Military Honors. Duane was born September 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 school house across the road from his home and graduated from Sacred Heart High School. After high school he enlisted in the US Army but returned home to take over the family farming operation when his father passed away in 1953. On August 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, MN; 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; brothers-in-law: Joe (Jean), Earl (Velda), Arnie (Betty), Louis (Marcie) Greif. He is also 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, and a sister, Jean (Clarence) Hosford; in-laws: Robert (Alvina) Greif, John Greif, Loras Greif, Fay Greif, and Paul Gassman.