Duane J. Driesen

Duane Jay Driesen was born July 25, 1950, in Canton, SD. He was one of ten children born to Ed and Elsiena (Kooima) Driesen. He was raised on the family farm near Rock Valley, IA, and attended the local schools.

In 1969, he married Sheila Hevern, and the couple became parents to two children, David and Cindy. Duane was engaged in farming with the Driesen family near Rock Valley during this time. He later married Kay Alesch, and was blessed with two more daughters, Wendi and Mindy. He relocated to the Cherokee County area where he farmed for a while. He married Sonja Chamberlain in 1994, and they made their home in Cherokee. He then worked at Cold Storage in Cherokee until his health forced his retirement.

 

Duane enjoyed going to tractor pulls, and watching NASCAR and WWE. He spent countless hours on his tablet, which was a way of reconnecting with old friends and family, as well as playing BINGO and many other games. He enjoyed fishing with his son, David, and any time spent together became even more precious after David’s death in 2014—they were “two peas in a pod”. Duey had many nieces and nephews that he loved to pick on and laugh and joke with. He was an excellent cook, and accepted any opportunity to cook for family and friends.

 

On Sunday, February 2, 2020, Duane passed away at Cherokee Specialty Care at the age of 69. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, David “Davey”, three brothers, Allen, Jim and Ted, and sister-in-law, Joan Driesen.

 

Survivors include his wife, Sonja Driesen; his three daughters, Cindy Elgersma of Sheldon, IA, Wendi Davis of Primghar, IA, and Mindy Alesch of Hartley, IA; 10 grandchildren: his siblings, Sam Driesen of Rock Valley, IA, Harlan (Priscilla) Driesen of Doon, IA, Joann (Larry) Bauder of Hawarden, Glenn (Cynthia) of Aurelia, Arlo Driesen of Alton, IA, Lyle Driesen of Alton, IA, and sister-in-law, Jean Driesen of Hawarden, IA; numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 7, 2020, at Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee.

There will be no visitation prior to the service.