DUENOW, Richard Norman "Ricky" 1945-1963

DUENOW

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/13/2009 at 13:17:20

#1 of 2 items:

RICHARD NORMAN "Ricky" DUENOW

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Richard Norman Duenow, 17, a junior at St. Ansgar-Grafton Community, High School, was found dead at about 7 p.m. here Friday.

Mitchell County medical examiner Dr. G. E. Krepelka of Osage said the youth was strangled by hanging. The body was found in the school's locker room.

Wearing track clothes, Duenow had a towel around his neck to which a rope was tied which was fastened to a beam overhead. There was no possibility of an accident, the coroner reported, but there was no apparent reason for suicide as the youth was cheerful when he left for school that morning.

Duenow was the oldest of six children of Mr. and Mrs. Merle Duenow, who operate a motel in St. Ansgar.

Survivors besides the parents are three sisters and two brothers; Peggy, 15, Sandra 9; Russell, 8, James, 4, Judy 2.

Funeral services have been tentatively set for Monday afternoon.

[Austin Daily Herald - Saturday, April 27, 1963]

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#2 of 2 items:

Ricky Duenow, a junior at the St. Ansgar-Grafton Community School, died early Friday evening. Funeral services, Pastor Carl T. Wuerffel officiating, were held April 29, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar. Burial was at the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

To the thinking and unthinking alike, it has been rather difficult to understand the Divine Providence that removed this seventeen year old student whose outlook and vision so transcended the school and community of which he was a part. His every action at home, church, school or on the street embodied Christian principles – his faith in the innate goodness of his fellows. He was not a passive model; his participation in many activities was of such a character as to inspire his classmates.

Rick’s personality and sincerity in work, play, and friendship made him an object of respect by old and young. He was intensely piratical, studious, jocular and genial but straightforward in all his relations.

Ricky Norman Duenow was born October 3, 1945, in the Nissen Hospital, Osage, Iowa, and died April 26, 1963, at the ate of 17 years, 6 months and 23 days. He was baptized January 6, 1946, in the Union Presbyterian Church near Stacyville, Iowa, by the Rev. John Rops. Later he attended St. Peter Lutheran School in Toeterville, Iowa. Four years ago he and his family moved to St. Ansgar, Iowa. They became members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church from which he was confirmed April 10, 1960 by Pastor Carl. T. Wuerffel. At the time of his death he was a faithful church attendant, a Walther League member, a senior Bible class member, a church usher and had actively participated in the youth choir and the Lutheran Service Volunteer group.

Ricky attended the elementary grades in St. Ansgar and graduated from the eighth grade in 1960. He was an energetic junior student. Besides his regular academic subjects, his activities included German Club, Science Club, Letterman’s Club, first chair trombonist in concert band, swing band, band council, soloist three years at state contests, a participant in various brass groups at contests, and a member of the wrestling and football teams. In the area of athletics he was most diligent and considered it a prerequisite to train the year around. Everyone has been let to believe he was engaged in some phase of this training at the time of his death.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Merle Duenow, one brother, Russell, four sisters, Peggy, Sandra, Jayne, and Judith, his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Norman, Elma, Iowa, and a host of relatives and friends.

It could be concluded that his death has been a loss that could never be repaired if it were not for Christian concepts and experiences. There have been few Christians who did not accept Catherine Marshall’s statement, “God is able to bring positive good for us out of any so-called tragedy.” The rapidity of mid-twentieth century living has made everyone realize that “there are other criteria for measuring life as well it’s duration – quality, intensity.” There is no compensation for the people in the community involved except that each one can go to him by recalling all the things he did well as a useful member in his adolescent group. In respect to him no one could do other than hold his life as an idea, strive to break away from a purely mundane outlook, and attain a more spiritual conception of value.

The time of life was short for Ricky. To live life at its best was to do well by investing both hands and heart in all he did. His philosophy was so eloquently revealed here, “Give of your best to God and Man and God’s best will come back to you.”

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, dated 1963 -- from St. Ansgar Museum collections)

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