SOBOTKA, Duane Lee
SOBOTKA, KIRBY, SCHMIDT, COOPER, SCHAEFER
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/25/2017 at 23:05:32
Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 28, 2017OBITUARY ~ DUANE LEE SOBOTKA
December 98, 1956 ~ June 23, 2017Duane Lee Sobotka was born December 9, 1956, in Corning, Iowa, to Leonard Andrew and Venita Shirlene (Kirby) Sobotka of Clearfield, Iowa. He was welcomed home by two sisters, Connie Sue and Karen Rae. Being raised on the farm, his younger years were filled with lots of fun times such as playing with toy trucks, tractors, and caterpillars in his sand box, sledding in snow drifts and riding ponies. He enjoyed football and Scouts in his school years and graduated from Clearfield High School in 1975.
Duane enlisted in the United States Army in 1978 and was honorably discharged after serving a three year active duty. During his time of serving, he spent a foreign tour in Germany as a truck mechanic. Duane moved to Fairfield Bay and later Hot Springs, Arkansas from Iowa. He made many new friends while working at various jobs including working with his stepfather, Ernie and mom in VEE’S BBQ. He enjoyed his job and coworkers at Harps Grocery in Hot Springs for many years.
Some of Duane’s favorite pastimes as an adult were golf, pool, darts, and karaoke. He loved playing his drums for many years with various local bands and friends.
Duane was baptized in and a member of the First Christian Church of Clearfield. He went to be with his Lord and Savior June 23, 2017, at the age of 60 years, 6 months, and 14 days.
He is survived by his loving mother, Venita Schmidt of Hot Springs; sisters, Connie Cooper of Bedford, Iowa, Karen and husband Mike Schaefer of Maloy, Iowa; four nieces; three nephews; nine great-nieces; six great-nephews; one great-great-niece; one great-great-nephew; and a host of family and friends.
Preceding him in death were his father, Leonard Sobotka; step-father, Ernest Schmidt; brother-in-law, Dennis Cooper; and paternal and maternal grandparents.
Living a full life of laughter and love is his lasting gift to us all.
Visitation will be held at the Christian Church in Clearfield, Iowa on Saturday, July 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a memorial service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Sherry Wiley will be officiating the service.
Honorary Pallbearers are Jackie Cooper-Bennett, Jennifer Bell, Bill Schaefer, Wendy Poore, Timothy Schaefer, Darcie Cooper, and Devan Cooper. There will be military honors at the church conducted by Woodside Post #97, American Legion of Clearfield. Memorials are to the Clearfield Christian Church.
Burial will be held at a later date in the Diagonal Cemetery.
Armstrong Funeral Home of Mount Ayr & Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at: www.armstrongfh.com.
The family wishes to thank all family and friends for their love and support. Christ’s peace and love to all.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2017
Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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