Duane John Helland -- Stewartville

Duane John Helland, 92, a longtime Stewartville area farmer, died on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, surrounded by his family, at the Grand Meadow Health Care Center in Grand Meadow, where he had been a resident for the past four years.

Duane was born at home on Sept. 3, 1924, to John and Hazel (Hanson) Helland in McCallsburg, Iowa. He lived all his childhood on that same farm and graduated from McCallsburg High School in 1943. He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1944, serving in Okinawa and with the Occupational Forces in Japan. He was staff sergeant with the 11th Airborne Paratroopers when honorably discharged in November 1946. He married Mary Bloomberg on Oct. 31, 1948, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They farmed near McCallsburg, Iowa, then near Grand Meadow, and for 31 years near Stewartville. Mr. Helland was a lifelong farmer. Mrs. Helland was a farm wife and homemaker and was employed for a few years at J.C. Penney Co. in Austin and at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for 25 years in their business office. After retiring in 1993, the Hellands moved into Stewartville. He was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church. Duane was a member of the Stewartville American Legion, where he was recently honored for his 70-Year Membership. Duane and Mary were members of the Stewartville Seniors and were avid travelers, including trips to Europe, New Zealand, Australia and many of the 50 states. He enjoyed listening to music -- country western and jazz and loved time spent with family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Duane is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters and one son, Mark (Lois), of Eau Claire, Wis., Kathy (Ron) Jensen, of Austin, Diane (Alan) Peterson, of Eyota, and Carol Smith (Ed Kunz), of Paynesville, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Helen Joyce; and infant grandson, Jeremy.

The funeral service for Duane will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, with the Rev. Byron Meline and the Rev. Kim Cassidy officiating. Burial will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville with military graveside honors by Stewartville American Legion Post 164. A time of visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday morning. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. www.griffin-gray.com.