Obituary for Duane Breitkreutz
Duane Francis Breitkreutz, 94, of Wisner, NE passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Hillside Villa in West Point, NE. A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wisner, NE; with Father Vincent officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Wisner, NE. Minnick Funeral Services of Wisner, NE is assisting with arrangements.
Duane was born on September 26, 1926 in rural Wisner, NE to Harvey and Veronica (Osman) Breitkreutz. He was the first baby baptized on Sunday in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wisner (we imagine they tightened the rules of admission after that). He attended rural school District 70 and later graduated from Wisner High School in 1945. Duane met Florence Christ on July 8, 1945, at a dance at the Howells Ballroom. They married August 2, 1948 in North Platte, NE, and moved near Howells, where they started farming. In 1951, Duane and Florence moved by Pilger, and in 1965, they returned to rural Wisner to Duane’s birth home, where they lived until 2016.
Duane was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer and farmed until he was 85 years old. Being a self-employed farmer definitely suited him; if you ever worked for him, you would understand why.
Duane enjoyed playing cards, especially Sheephead, a game he relished and mastered and from which often emanated a tapestry of curse words. He loved polka music, dancing, and also singing with the Singing Grandpas. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and was a board member for rural school District 34. Duane was a fantastic historian—from stories of his great grandfather to precisely where on the farm you would find that one part—it’s on the north side of the east corner of the south bay of the machine shed.
Duane was funny, had a robust laugh and a big smile. He was a great storyteller. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and had more friends than his children have combined.
On Thursday, we strongly suspect that Duane heard Florence playing polka music and decided to head her way. We also suspect that they’re enjoying some pivo cerveny (that’s red beer for those of you not fortunate enough to have any Czech blood).
Duane is preceded in death by his parents; wife Florence of 70 wonderful years; daughter Janet Marie; siblings Alphonse, Ethel, Betty, Violet, LeRoy, Roland and infant sister, Luella.
Duane will be dearly missed by
son Thomas (Mary) Breitkreutz of Omaha, NE
son Kenneth (Karen) Breitkreutz of Lee’s Summit, MO
their children, Katherine Bergstedt of Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Kristin Breitkreutz and son Emerson Brady of Prairie Village, KS
daughter Nancy Breitkreutz (Mark Wacker) of Wayne, NE
their children, Zach (Katie) Wacker of Wayne, NE
Paige Wacker of Mankato, MN
daughter Anne Breitkreutz (Roger Nottleman) of Fort Calhoun, NE
their children, Westin, Tilden & Sutton Nottleman of Fort Calhoun, NE
daughter Carolyn Breitkreutz (Nathan Dixon) of Fort Calhoun, NE
sisters Evelyn (Richard) Smith
Rita (Larry) Clark
Sharon Lehman
sisters-in-law Eileen Breitkreutz
Sidonia Breitkreutz
Anna Mae Beran
Burdean Christ
As their kids, we’ve been blessed to have had a front row seat to our parents’ love and devotion for one another and to their grit and fortitude of spirit. If we can be half the people they were, well, we’ll be doing pretty good.
Duane was born on September 26, 1926 in rural Wisner, NE to Harvey and Veronica (Osman) Breitkreutz. He was the first baby baptized on Sunday in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wisner (we imagine they tightened the rules of admission after that). He attended rural school District 70 and later graduated from Wisner High School in 1945. Duane met Florence Christ on July 8, 1945, at a dance at the Howells Ballroom. They married August 2, 1948 in North Platte, NE, and moved near Howells, where they started farming. In 1951, Duane and Florence moved by Pilger, and in 1965, they returned to rural Wisner to Duane’s birth home, where they lived until 2016.
Duane was a lifelong grain and livestock farmer and farmed until he was 85 years old. Being a self-employed farmer definitely suited him; if you ever worked for him, you would understand why.
Duane enjoyed playing cards, especially Sheephead, a game he relished and mastered and from which often emanated a tapestry of curse words. He loved polka music, dancing, and also singing with the Singing Grandpas. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and was a board member for rural school District 34. Duane was a fantastic historian—from stories of his great grandfather to precisely where on the farm you would find that one part—it’s on the north side of the east corner of the south bay of the machine shed.
Duane was funny, had a robust laugh and a big smile. He was a great storyteller. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and had more friends than his children have combined.
On Thursday, we strongly suspect that Duane heard Florence playing polka music and decided to head her way. We also suspect that they’re enjoying some pivo cerveny (that’s red beer for those of you not fortunate enough to have any Czech blood).
Duane is preceded in death by his parents; wife Florence of 70 wonderful years; daughter Janet Marie; siblings Alphonse, Ethel, Betty, Violet, LeRoy, Roland and infant sister, Luella.
Duane will be dearly missed by
son Thomas (Mary) Breitkreutz of Omaha, NE
son Kenneth (Karen) Breitkreutz of Lee’s Summit, MO
their children, Katherine Bergstedt of Oakbrook Terrace, IL
Kristin Breitkreutz and son Emerson Brady of Prairie Village, KS
daughter Nancy Breitkreutz (Mark Wacker) of Wayne, NE
their children, Zach (Katie) Wacker of Wayne, NE
Paige Wacker of Mankato, MN
daughter Anne Breitkreutz (Roger Nottleman) of Fort Calhoun, NE
their children, Westin, Tilden & Sutton Nottleman of Fort Calhoun, NE
daughter Carolyn Breitkreutz (Nathan Dixon) of Fort Calhoun, NE
sisters Evelyn (Richard) Smith
Rita (Larry) Clark
Sharon Lehman
sisters-in-law Eileen Breitkreutz
Sidonia Breitkreutz
Anna Mae Beran
Burdean Christ
As their kids, we’ve been blessed to have had a front row seat to our parents’ love and devotion for one another and to their grit and fortitude of spirit. If we can be half the people they were, well, we’ll be doing pretty good.