Duane E. Kasper

KASPER, HURT, MALMBERG, BEKKER, EDWARDS, LEHMAN

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 3/30/2010 at 17:07:08

Duane E. Kasper, 76, of Iowa City died Friday, March 26, 2010 at home following a courageous battle with cancer.
Funeral Services will be held at 7 pm, Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, with Rev. Judy Gingerich officiating. Visitation will be after 3 pm Wednesday, until service time. Burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or Mercy Hospital Foundation for cancer care.
Duane Edward Kasper was born September 3, 1933 in Johnson County to Elmer and Mary Hurt Kasper. He was a graduate of University High School. In 1953 Duane joined the US Army, where he spent one and a half years playing clarinet in the First Infantry Division Band.
Duane married Joyce Malmberg in 1956. They later divorced. In 1966 he married Mary Bekker Edwards. They have been married for 43 years. While attending Iowa City Commercial College from 1955-56 he worked at Kresge’s and was later employed at Novotny’s Cycle Center until 1982. While at Novotny’s he started a string instrument repair shop in his home. He made four violins, one of which he played during his band years. Duane retired in 1995 from the UIHC, where he worked in the Medical Records Dept. as a medical records clerk.
While in high school Duane and his brother Glenn organized and played in a band called the Mule Skinners. This led him to play with many area country western bands including Frank Buhr, Orley Workman, Carroll Chipman, Laverne Miller, Dave Dighton, Jerry Beauchamp and Tom Hofer. He played clarinet, saxophone and the fiddle. He played for 49 years and was known by his nickname, “Duke”.
Duane had a great love for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, mushrooming, gardening and carings for his roses. Duane had an interest in art since his childhood and started oil painting after retirement. His paintings included landscapes, wild life and florals. Many of these paintings are in the homes of family and friends. He also had a great love for fireworks and was a licensed pyrotechnician. He took classes on firework safety and building, and taught classes on safety for several years. With friends, he built shells and mines which were used for a fireworks show for family and friends on the Kasper farm every year. Duane was noted for his friendliness, good humor and love of life.
Duane is survived by his wife, Mary; sons Dean (Paula) Kasper of Lone Tree, Alan (Sabrina) Kasper of Bruce, SD; daughter, Elaine Kasper of Iowa City; stepson, Bryan Edwards of Coralville; stepdaughter, Brenda (Chris) Lehman of Peoria, AZ; two brothers, Glenn (Pat) Kasper of Oxford and Virgil (Darlene) Kasper of Tiffin; thirteen grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Online condolences and memories may be sent to www.lensingfuneral.com