Duane LeRoy Nelson

Duane Nelson, 88, San Diego, CA, passed away peacefully under the care of Sharp Hospice San Diego on September 7, 2025.  His life will be remembered and celebrated at a funeral service at Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville, MN, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 2:00 in the afternoon with Rev. Kyle Christopherson of Hawley Alliance Church presiding. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service, at 1:00 pm, at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at Zion Cemetery in Skree Township of Clay County, MN.

Duane Nelson was born on the family farm in Skree Township, MN on September 13,1936. After graduating from High School in Barnesville, MN, Duane attended the School of Agriculture at University of Minnesota. He was a member of the Fargo Air National Guard for 6 years.

On December 29,1961, friends and families braved 29 degrees below zero to celebrate the marriage of Duane to Judith Ann Schwartz. They had two children, Karin Lynn and Randy Scott. Thru the agency of the American Field Exchange program, the Nelsons hosted Suha Khatib from Amman, Jordan. She lived with them during the 1980-1981 school year.

Life on the farm was a challenge, as well as Duane's passion. For 40 years he farmed with his father and later, with his children. A man of many talents, Duane hauled gravel for Kenneth Sogn, drove milk truck for Kermit Nelson, welded and repaired farm machinery at the Scheffler-Schwartz Welding Shop, helped Bob Berg prepare the yearly cattle auctions and drove a taxi in Fargo.

Duane was on the Skree Township Board (12 years), Farmer’s Coop Oil Board and Elevator Board (10 years), and Clay County Farm Home Administration Board (4 years). The Nelsons attended the West Fargo Community Presbyterian Church. They avidly followed Karin and Randy’s’ school activities as well as Rothsay High School’s events where Judy taught school for 20 years.

Duane spent 13 years remodeling their home. In December of 1975, the house was destroyed by fire while the family was enroute to Florida for a Christmas vacation. With the help of many generous people from the communities of Barnesville, Hawley, Rothsay and West Fargo, their dream home was built and enjoyed until they moved to California in June 1985.

Relocating to San Diego, Duane was employed by Maxwell Laboratories. He was then assigned to be in charge of shipping and receiving at Ibus, a subsidiary of Maxwell, until his retirement in 2001. During his retirement years, he had the privilege and joy to provide childcare for his grandsons Brandon and Nicholas. He developed a passion for wood-turning, a self-taught hobby which he shared with all four of his grandsons.

Since August, Duane was at home while in the care of Sharp Hospice San Diego. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 7. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judy; daughter Karin and Robert III Whittaker (Thompsons Station, TN); son Randy and Amy Nelson (San Diego, CA); brother, Herbert Jr. and Carol Nelson (Hawley, MN); Grandsons: Robert and Ruby Whittaker (Tacoma, WA), Adon Whittaker, Brandon Nelson, Nicholas Nelson; Sisters-in law and husbands: Joy and Tom Fisch (Fargo, ND), Jerilyn and Todd Hutton, (Billings, MT); and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Nelson and Esther Haarstad Nelson.

Funeral arrangements by Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, San Diego, CA and Dobmeier Funeral Home, Barnesville, MN.