Duane Alvin VanKleek

Duane "Colonel" Van Kleek died October 12, 2015 in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Friends and family will be gathering from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 15 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. A celebration of life funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 16 at New Journey Community Church, 2105 N. Avenue in Milford. A graveside service will follow. Duane was born January 25, 1933 in Floyd County, Iowa. Duane was raised by Arthur and Rose Van Kleek in Royal and later Arnolds Park with one older sister, Inez, and five older brothers; Ivan, Vic, Bob, Dale, and Vernon. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Korean War from 1952-1954. Upon returning from active service, Duane met Phyllis Steiber, who was a waitress at a diner in Spirit Lake. We're sure he said something to the effect of "Whoa Baby" when he saw her. The couple began dating and they later married in Lansing, Iowa on June 17, 1956. In 1964, he began farming and raising hogs and cattle. Most of his life, he drove truck for various companies throughout the Midwest. Duane was a member of the Dickinson County Farm Bureau, Soybean Association, Cattleman's Association and the Terril American Legion where he served as a chaplain for 10 years and as commander. He also was a founding member of the Dickinson County Pork Producers Association. Duane's three loves were farming, fishing, and family. He spent many hours waiting by the lake for the fish to bite. His favorite fish were bullheads because "he could always catch at least one." Duane had deep roots in farming and found an enormous joy in being in the fields. He never really did retire from farming, just days before his passing, he spent the afternoon doing tillage. He loved his family dearly and would often tell others how proud he was of each of their various accomplishments. He did almost everything in his life to provide for his family. Anyone that knows Duane, knows God blessed him with the "gift of gab." Anywhere, anyone, about anything- he could talk for hours on hours. In the same sense, he loved to make people laugh, and enjoyed being the funny one. This unexchangable sense of humor will be greatly missed. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 59 years, Phyllis, 3 sons; Steve (Kris) of Milford, Keith (Diane) of Terril, and Glenn (Anne) of Cottage Grove, MN, 5 grandchildren; Matt, Marc, Kerri, Nate, and Mary, and one great-grandson, Beckham. He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and two nephews.