Duane Freese

Duane Merrill Freese, 94, of Toledo, passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown.

Funeral services for were held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Duane and his family.

Duane Merrill Freese was born on January 25, 1930 at his home in rural Toledo, Iowa. He was the son of Delmar A. and Phyllis Aleta (Stanford) Freese. Duane attended a one room rural school until 8th grade then went on to Toledo High School, graduating in 1949. Duane enjoyed carpooling with the fellow neighbor students to school. On May 20, 1953, Duane was united in marriage to Juanita Sevcik at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Duane served his country honorable in the United States Navy from 1950 until his honorable discharge in 1954, where he was on the USS Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier, stationed in Korea. After Duane came home from the Navy, he farmed with his father, and later farmed on his own. He also was an assemblyman at Toledo tractor and did some custom work such as bailing hay and tiling. Duane enjoyed computers, cameras, woodworking and puzzles.

Duane is survived by his wife of over 71 years, Juanita; children: Dallas (Edie) Freese and Ivy (Duane “Eddie”) Foubert; grandchildren: Desiree, Raelene and Colt and great grandchildren: Kadin and Aurelia. He is preceded in death by his parents: Delmar and Phyllis; son: Dale; grandson: Logun; sister: Joann; several brother and sister-in-law’s; Juanita’s brother: Rex and good family friend: John Cecak.