Duane Victor Weckwerth

Duane Victor Weckwerth, age 80, of Arlington, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2025, at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud MN.  Visitation will be on Friday, October 10, 2025, 1:30 p.m. ~ 3:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church with Pastor Craig McCourt officiating in Arlington followed by burial services with Veteran’s honors at 3:00 p.m. at Arlington Public Cemetery, Arlington, MN.  Memorial services will be private.

He was born June 30, 1945, In Gaylord MN to Victor and Else Weckwerth.  Duane lived most of his life just outside of Arlington on the site where he was raised. He was baptized on July 22, 1945, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gaylord, MN by Reverand Geo L. Matthias and Confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Arlington on April 26, 1959, By Pastor John G Bradtke. He graduated from Arlington-Green Isle High School on May 28, 1963. He entered the United States Army on September 28th 1965 and took his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri.  He proudly served his country in the United States Army, including a tour in Vietnam, 1965-1967 where he was a Specialist E-4.  Discharged Aug 23, 1967, he returned home to marry the love of his life, Shirley Mae Henke at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Arlington, MN by Pastor John G. Bradtke on Feb. 8, 1969.  Together they shared over 56 years of marriage, raising four sons and building a life rooted in family, love, and hard work.

Duane worked at the Arlington Municipal Liquor Store from 1970-1979.  He worked at a variety of other jobs and positions for a time before he later worked for 25 years at Unimin Corp in Ottawa, Minnesota, retiring July 1st, 2010.

He was a lifetime member of the Arlington American Legion and Arlington VFW.  He was a faithful supporter of Veterans and their programs and his community. He was a long-time member of the Honor Color Guard Services. He was a Junior and Senior Vice Commander in 1980 and Trustee.   He was also a founding member of Peace Lutheran Church, 1982, in Arlington serving as an usher.

Each fall, he could be found lending a hand to neighboring farmers during harvest season — something he truly enjoyed.

In retirement, Duane cherished the simple joys of life: fishing with family and The Veterans on the Water, deer hunting, playing cards, mowing the lawn (a love passed down from his mother), harvesting black walnuts that he shared with many and, above all, spending time with his grandchildren, who were the light of his life. He was known for his generosity and willingness to help others, always dropping what he was doing if someone needed him.  He has been a resident of the V.A. Medical Center, Unit 50-1 in St. Cloud since July of 2024, where he considered his second family and good friend and veteran Dave.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; three sons: Lonnie (Dana) Weckwerth, with children Andrew, Melinda and boyfriend, Leovigildo Ramos Gomez and Zachary of LeSueur, MN, Leon (Jennifer) Weckwerth with children Charlotte and Parker of Mankato MN, Landon (Johanna) Weckwerth with children Oliver and Evan of Arlington MN.

He is also survived by his sisters Lavonne Frauendienst, Phyllis Frauendienst, sister-in-law Kathleen (John)  Kachelmyer and their family as well as four Godchildren, three nieces and a nephew, and many extended family and friends.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Brothers- in- law Gary Frauendienst and Raymond  Frauendienst and by his beloved son, Lance, 11/03/1989.

A man of quiet strength, devotion, and kindness, Duane will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the V.F.W Post 6031 in his honor or Veterans on the Water.