Duane J. Marholz, of Chaska, died Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at Chaska Heights Senior Living at the age of 84.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 30, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Montevideo American Legion Club. Visitation and lunch with the family will follow the service until 2:00 PM. Burial service for immediate family only will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo.
Duane John Marholz was born in Montevideo on November 23, 1932 to Everett and Hattie (Maus) Marholz. He attended school in Montevideo and graduated in 1950. While still a senior in High School Duane enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard where he would serve in a variety of roles including active and reserve status until his retirement as Colonel in 1992. He married Janice Rasmussen on August 7, 1954 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo. They had three children; Terry, Kurt and Sue.
Duane served on active duty for the Korean War from 1951-1952. During that time he completed the Operations Sergeants course at Fort Sill, OK. Upon his release from active duty he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Duane and Jan lived in Montevideo from 1954 to 1974 where Duane would command divisions in Madison, Montevideo, and Olivia. Duane was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1972 and transferred to Anoka to the 47th Division Artillery Headquarters as the S-3 Operations and Training. In 1978 he would be transferred to the Headquarters 47th Infantry Division in St. Paul and would serve as the G-3 Operations and Training Officer.
He returned to active duty from 1979 to 1981 as the Army National Guard Liaison Officer and was on staff and faculty of the U.S. Army FA School at Fort Sill, OK. In 1981 he returned to Minnesota and served as the Military support to Civil Authorities officer on the staff of the Adjutant General of Minnesota. He was also at that time promoted to the rank of full Colonel. He retired from active status in 1984 but continued from 1984 to 1986 serving in the Army Reserve Individual Mobilization unit. He was transferred to U.S. Army Retired Reserve in 1986 and officially retired from the U.S. Army on November 23, 1992. During his time in the U.S. Military Duane would complete U.S. Army Intelligence School training, U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer Advance Course, cold weather survival course and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS.
Duane treasured his time being able to come out to the family farm north of Montevideo and spent much of his time planting trees and prairie grass to restore the land and habitat. He also enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant. He would later take up the game of golf . Though his work in the military Duane and Jan were able to travel together throughout the world. They would winter in Arizona and treasured the friends they made any place they lived. Duane was also a big fan of western movies.
But by far his greatest treasures in life were his wife, Jan, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was so very proud of his family and was also close to his siblings Ray and Janice. He loved being able to spend time visiting and sharing stories with family and friends. Duane and Jan moved to Chaska Heights Senior Living in October of 2016 and fell in love with the community of friends and neighbors living there.
Duane is survived by his wife, Jan; his children Terry (Mary) Marholz, Kansas City, MO, Kurt (Carol) Marholz, Eagan, MN and Sue Marty, Minneapolis ,MN; grandchildren: Melissa (Dylan) Spofford, Nathan (Allison Caso) Marholz, Laura (Matt Bradney) Marholz, Ben (Stacy) Sosniecki and Dylan Marty and Carly Wartman; great-grandchildren: Everett and Charlie; brother, Ray Marholz, Becker, MN and sister, Janice Mills, Sartell, MN as well and nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Hattie, his grandparents John and Ida Marholz and grandmother, Emma Maus.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley, Little Falls, Minnesota.