Duane Lounsbery

Duane Kenneth Lounsbery was born on June 3, 1947 in Sioux Falls, SD, the son of Maurice and Esther (Thomas) Lounsbery. He attended school at Cottage Grove country school near Beresford, SD and attended junior high at Centerville, SD. When the Lounsbery family moved north of Vermillion, SD Duane attended and graduated from Meckling High School. Duane graduated from the University of Springfield in Springfield, SD with degrees in automotive mechanics diesel mechanics and education in 1970. Duane made his home in Long Prairie, MN where he was blessed with two sons, Joseph and Michael. He established the first automotive mechanics class at Long Prairie High School where he taught for the next twenty-two years. After retiring from teaching Duane moved to Davis, SD for a short time. In 1995 he was joined in marriage to Colleen Schnettler (Holmquist). The couple returned to Minnesota and made their home n Alexandria, MN. In 1998 Duane began working for Standard Iron & Wire Works in Alexandria. Duane loved working on motors; if it wasn?t loud it wasn?t working right. He was a NASCAR fan and liked to spend his Sunday afternoons napping through the races. He also enjoyed watching football, visiting with friends and family and spending time on his deck or around a bonfire. When he was wasn?t enjoying his steak and butter Duane could be found working hard or playing hard. He took pride in his home, his work and all of his family. On Thursday March 12, 2009 Duane died at home at the age of sixty-one years. His father, Maurice Lounsbery, preceded him in death. Duane is survived by his wife, Colleen Lounsbery of Alexandria; his mother, Esther Lounsbery of Vermillion, SD; two sons, Joseph Lounsbery and wife, Tara, of Ely, NV and Michael Lounsbery and wife, Tawnya, of Alexandria; five step-children, Cliff Cline and wife Jill of Long Prairie, Rebecca Schnettler of Alexandria, Jacqueline Schnettler of Milaca, MN, Katherine Winkler & Leif Curtis of Rochester, MN; seven grandchildren, Matthew Lounsbery, Nicholas Lounsbery, Jade Dreger, Hudson Saxton, Brady Cline, Brandon Cline, and Travis Curtis; and his three brothers, Richard Lounsbery and wife, Charlotte, of Davis, SD, John Lounsbery and wife, Kathleen, of Hartington, NE and Marvin Lounsbery and wife, Teresa, of Faribault, MN. A funeral service was held Monday, March 16, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Alexandria. Rev. Jeff Hansen officiated and Gale Maxwell provided music. Interment followed in the Kinkead Cemetery in Alexandria. Casket bearers included Pat Kraemer, Bill Nelson, Phillip Lounsbery, Jason Lounsbery, Shawn Vannorsdel, Jerry Marts and Dan Wiedenfeld. Honorary casket bearers included Morgen Lounsbery, Nathan Lounsbery, Jessica Vannorsdel, Amanda Marts, Jacklyn Lounsbery, Angela Wiedenfeld, Paula Bahm, Kayla Lounsbery and Marshall Bahm. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home.