Duane Bernard Gregoire

Duane Gregoire, of Montevideo, died on Saturday, September 10, 2005 at the Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 69.

A Memorial Mass will be conducted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 3:00 PM St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Jim Devorak the celebrant.

Duane Bernard Gregoire was born on February 8, 1936 near Vesta, MN to Harvey and Ada (Stassen) Gregoire.  He attended school and in 1954 graduated from Holy Redeemer School in Marshall, MN. On June 4, 1956 he was united in marriage to Shirley Wirtjes at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall.  He served for a number of years in the National Guard.  He did crop dusting in South Dakota before moving to Montevideo and managing the airport and giving flight instruction and sales. He later had a home finishing business until health necessitated retirement.  He had recently become a resident at the Luther Haven Nursing Home.  He was a member of St. Josephs Catholic Parish and had been a member of the K.C.’s, the Montevideo Police reserve and the Experimental Aircraft Association.. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, flying, building model airplanes, woodworking, bird watching, and RV camping, including several years as a campground host at Lac qui Parle State Park.  He also built and flew his own ultra-lite.  As per his request, following his death, his remains were donated to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; four children: Doug Gregoire and his wife Cindy of Champlin, MN, Cathy McCormick and her husband Dave of Holt, MI, Dave Gregoire and his wife Dawn of Montevideo and Kari Willand and her husband Arlan of Sartell, MN; 13 grandchildren; three sisters: Bernice (Lester) Bauer of Sauk Centre, MN, Pat (Bud) Curwick of Marshall, MN and Betty (Bob) Obermann of Worthington, MN; as well as by a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Delores Gregoire; and by a brother-in-law, James Stalpes.