Duane Richard Mielke
NORTHWOOD, Iowa – Duane Richard Mielke, 73, of Northwood, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle in Hamilton, Ohio. A celebration of Duane’s life will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, at First Lutheran Church, 309 N. Ninth St., in Northwood. Military honors will be conducted at the church by members of Our Buddies VFW Memorial Post 6779 of Northwood. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday at Conner Colonial Chapel in Northwood, and also one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
Duane Richard Mielke was born Nov. 15, 1941, in Albert Lea, Minn., the son of Russell and Opal (Flatness) Mielke. Duane attended rural grade school in Grove Township in Worth County, and graduated from Northwood High School in the class of 1959. He was inducted into the U.S. Army and served his country honorably and faithfully in Germany and was proud of being chosen for the Army Color Guard.
He was united in marriage to Janyce Manecke on Oct. 10, 1965, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills. Duane loved his family and grandchildren, and going to his children’s and grandchildren’s school sports activities.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jan Mielke of Northwood; his children, Chris (Patti) Mielke of Blue Earth, Minn., and Jessica Mielke Bergsma of Dunwoody, Ga.; his grandchildren, Rachael and Derek Mielke; three sisters, Ruth Anderl of Philadelphia, Pa., Marilyn (John) Nagel of Greely, Colo., and Lydia (Tim) Elmer of Glenville, Minn.; as well as several nieces, nephews, and other extended family members and friends.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Opal Mielke; granddaughter, Morgan Mielke; sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Richard Shepherd; and a brother-in-law, Richard Anderl.