Rev. Edward Duea (1876-1939)

DUEA, SHELDAHL, BROHAUG, SAHL, THOMPSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal April 11, 1939 (page 3)

Life Sketch of Late Rev. Edward Duea

Special to the Journal:
Story City, April 11--"Out of much affliction" Rev. Edward Duea "finished his course" and passed to his reward Palm Sunday morning at his home in Story City, April 2, 1939. Born of parents, Jonas Duea and Martha Sheldahl at Roland, February 30, 1876, he finished the Roland high school and entered Red Wing seminary graduating in 1905. That same year he was ordained into the ministry on a call to Armstrong, Swea City, and Blue Earth, Minn. He served there until called to Lincoln church, Slater, and Bethesda, Ames, Iowa in 1917. A year later he was also called to serve Bethlehem and Bethania in Slater and Kelley. In 1926 he was called to Dows and vicinity, where he served until June 20th last year, when he moved to Story City where he died after a lingering illness, happy in his victorious faith and living hope.

Rev. Duea was married October 1907 to Josephine Brohaug of Elsworth, Wis. Two children were born to this union, Orvis and Marjory. His wife and daughter preceded him in death in 1917.

October 26, 1921 he married Miss Clara Sahl of Kenyon, Minn. To them were born two children, Phebe Lucille and Paul Edward. These two and Orvis of Fort Dodge, with his devoted wife, Mrs. Edward Duea, survive him, together with a grandson, Edward Michal of Fort Dodge. Also two brothers, Rasmus of Sabeka, Minn. and Oscar of St. Cloud, Minn., and a sister, Mary Thompson and his step-mother, Mrs. Henrietta Duea, both of Roland. Rev. Duea was a kind and loving husband and father, a friend to all and faithful in the discharge of his duties both in church and state. His home was truly described in the words of the song requested and sung at his casket before leaving the home "O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest." To his fellow-pastors in the ministry, Rev. Duea was a living example of I Cor. 6: "In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions--by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned--as unknown and yet well known; as dying and behold, we live; as chastened and not killed; as sorrowful; yet always rejoicing, etc." The only criticism offered at his casket by his former parishoners was this, that he was too active, too hard on himself; he spared not himself, in his ministry for his Master among the sick and the shut-ins of his flock. How fitting the text and sermon in church "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crowd of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all that love his appearing."

Rev. T. T. Heimarck, his pastor, had charge of the services at the home assisted by Rev. H. O. Bjorlie. At the church Rev. T. J. Severson of Eagle Grove, vice president of the Iowa district of the Norwegian Lutheran church of America gave the main sermon, after the congregation sang "I know of a sleep." Rev. E. Rorem of Slater and Rev. Peterson of Dows, brought messages from his former churches. The choir of the church sang "Come soothing death." Miss Thelma Hagen sang "One sweetly solemn thought." Rev. P. Buland of Story City, a special visitor and friend brought a message from Rev. Duea's deathbed and Rev. Olaf Holen, pastor of Rev. Duea's boyhood church, Salem church of Roland, brought resolutions and greetings. Rev. Heimarck read messages and mentioned many gifts given in memoriam Rev. Otto Jacobson of Kenyon, Minn., brought a message from Mrs. Duea's home congregation. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd of Roland rendered a duet "Face to face with Jesus my Saviour." The congregation sang "O happy day when we shall stand." The church was filled to capacity.

The pall bearers, requested by Rev. Duea, were former members from his churches, Martin Madison of Blue Earth, Minn., Bert Bertilson of Dows, Amos Iverson of Dows, O. B. Iverson of Ellsworth, John Richardson of Kelley, and John Carlson of Slater. All the pastors present, about 25 in all, served as honorary pall bearers. Burial was made at the Story City cemetery.