Duane Ziemkowski

Funeral services for Duane David Ziemkowski of Hewitt will be held at 12 Noon on Friday, December 11, 2015, at the Community Center in Hewitt. Friends may call at the Schuller Family Funeral Home's Domian-Anderson Chapel in Bertha on Thursday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. and again at the Community Center in Hewitt on Friday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services. Duane died peacefully at the age of 67, at his home in Hewitt, on December 7, 2015. Duane David Ziemkowski was born on December 15, 1947, to David and Helen (Solarz) Ziemkowski in Morris, Minnesota. The family moved to a farm southwest of Bertha in 1948. Duane graduated from Bertha-Hewitt High School in 1965. Duane was drafted into the United States Army on January 18, 1968. He served in Vietnam until he was honorably discharged on January 7, 1971. He then drove truck for Don Franklin Trucking hauling milk. Duane and Mary Tober were united in marriage in 1970. They had three wonderful daughters: Angie, Denise, and Janell. The couple later divorced. Duane worked various jobs. The most enjoyable, however, was driving over-the-road, from which he retired in 2005. Duane and Karen Schwantes were united in marriage in October, 2006. This marriage brought Duane more joy and happiness, including three step-children: Tammy, Aaron, and Tony and their families. Duane and Karen enjoyed doing many activities together which included: motorcycle trips, gardening, yard work, visits to children and grandchildren, attending the grandchildren’s activities, and singing. Duane is survived by his wife, Karen of Hewitt; daughters Angie Koenig of Fargo, ND, Denise (Mike) Fritza of Washington, UT, and Janell (Jamie Rindy) Beumer of Carrington, ND; step-children Tammy (Dave) Churchill of Fergus Falls, Aaron (Bobbi) Schwantes of Fargo, ND, and Tony (Stephanie) Schwantes of Grimes, IA; sisters Pat Peterson of Deer Park, TX; Karen Kern of Alexandria, and Mary (Gene) Dario of Woodbury; several nieces and nephews; and 19 grandchildren. Duane was preceded in death by his father, David; son-in-law, Lance; mother-in-law, Dawn; and brother-in-law, Pete. As an expression of sympathy, memorials are preferred to Kruzin' 4 Kidz of Wadena, which benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. ( Box 1, Wadena, MN 56482) Honorary Pallbearers will be Duane’s brother-in-law, Steve Simpson and members of the Hewitt Lions Club Pallbearers will be Jim Walker, Mike Fritza, Jamie Rindy, Aaron Schwantes, Tony Schwantes, and Dave Churchill. Military honors will be provided by the Elmer Goche Post 3922, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wadena, MN. Burial will be in Hewitt Cemetery, Hewitt, MN.

Duane Ziemkowski

December 15, 1947 - December 7, 2015