Services for Duane Wagner

 

Duane Adolph Wagner, 87, of Berner, MN, passed away Thursday, June 23, 2016 at his home in Berner, MN, surrounded by his loving family. 

 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 2:00 PM at United Lutheran Church in Berner, MN. Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. at Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, MN. A visitation will also be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Interment will be at United Lutheran Cemetery in Berner, MN .The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with the arrangements. 

 

Duane was born August 27, 1928 in Windsor Township near Berner, MN to Earl and Beatrice (Torgerson) Wagner. He was baptized and confirmed at United Lutheran Church in Berner, MN. He graduated from high school in 1947 in Gonvick, where he played football for the Gonvick Bulldogs, who were undefeated for four seasons. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Duane married the love of his life, Signe Strandberg, on October 7, 1950 at United Lutheran Church in Berner, MN. Into this union, two daughters were born, Pamela and Kimberly. Duane did some farming, worked construction in Minneapolis, and then later found his true passion working with heavy equipment. He became the owner and operator of his own business, “Duane Wagner Excavating”.

Duane was a member of the Gonvick American Legion and a life-long member of United Lutheran Church; he even fixed the steeple of the church in the mid 1950s.He loved hunting, fishing and always enjoyed anything to do with horses. He also loved riding his four-wheeler through the trails he made in the woods and frequently checking on his wildlife pond. He took pleasure in gardening and watching things grow. During the last years, he also enjoyed watching and listening to the birds gathered around the bird feeder on their deck. Although he was a bit of a homebody, Duane enjoyed the company of his friends and neighbors, of whom he deeply cared about. He was quite the prankster and loved bringing a smile to peoples’ faces. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and will be greatly missed. 

 

He is survived by his wife, Signe; his daughters, Pamela (Ernie) Samson of Tenstrike, MN and Kimberly (Steve) Pohl of Bemidji, MN; his grandchildren, Tracy (Kerry) Hopperstad, Tamara (Chris) Thompson, Kathryn (Justin) Toole, Karl (Kayla) Pohl, and Kristofor Pohl; his great grandchildren, Brenden, Brenna, Bryce, Kade, Karson, Oliver, and Austin; his sister, Darlene (Jim) Lien; his brother, Art (Phyllis) Wagner; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Beatrice Wagner; and his sisters, Joyce, Doris, and Arlyss.