Duane J. ‘Dewey’ Mahrt 1925 - 2021

MAHRT, TURKINGTON, HERBOLD, BURKE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/17/2021 at 10:47:12

Sioux City Journal
7 January 2021

Duane J. ‘Dewey’ Mahrt

Sioux City -- Duane J. “Dewey” Mahrt, 95, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at a local hospital.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel with Pastor Gene Stockton officiating. Visitation with family present will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Masks and social distancing will be required for the entire visit and service.

Duane was born Sept. 2, 1925, in Kingsley, Iowa, the son of William H. Mahrt and Anne Turkington. After graduating high school he joined the United States Navy where he was a Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class. He was aboard the U.S.S. Cape Esperance when it survived a typhoon in the Western Pacific in 1944. Dewey was a very proud World War II Veteran.

On May 17, 1946, he was honorably discharged from the U. S. Navy and returned to Kingsley where he met the first love of his life, Marjorie Jane Herbold. The two of them were married on May 25, 1947, in Kingsley. Shortly after being married they moved to Sioux City where they started their family and had three children: Bill, Sue, and Jeff. Only nine short years after their family was complete Marjorie lost her battle with cancer and passed away on March 7, 1965.

“Dewey” always said he was a lucky man because he got to have two great loves of his life. On Aug. 18, 1967, Duane married Merna Burke, the second love of his life. They blended their families and created a wonderful life together with many memories. They were married for the rest of their earthly lives until Merna passed away on Dec. 4, 2016. They loved their children fiercely, and in that life together they were grandparents to 17 grandchildren whom they loved and cherished.

Duane first worked as an office manager at Amour Meat Company in Sioux City. After his time at Amour Meat Company he became a member of the Condon family at Condon Motor Company as an office manager. He loved his time at Condon and his “Condon Family” dearly. He retired from Condon after 30 plus years.

To say he was an avid golfer would be an understatement. He loved everything about the game and even had a couple of holes-in-one. He enjoyed playing cribbage with friends for nickels, poker for pennies, and any game he could bluff someone. He thoroughly enjoyed being around people. He had the gift of gab and blessed those around him with his quick wit and sense of humor. He found himself just as funny as anyone else did. He was the life of the party or any place he lived. He could talk to anyone, make friends anywhere, and make each person he came in contact with important. He loved all the people at Floyd Place, in Sergeant Bluff, where he lived the past four years. Dewey was loved by almost everyone who knew him.

Duane is survived by his brother Doug (Mary) Brown of West Des Moines, Iowa; two sons, Bill (Cathie) Mahrt of Sioux City, and David (Tricia) Burke of Ocean Springs, Miss.; two daughters, Sue (Scott) Wilcox of Dakota Dunes, and Renee (Kenny) Marks of Greely, Colo.; daughter-in-law Judy Mahrt of Spencer, Iowa; nieces and nephews; grandchildren, Travis (Tad), Lindsey (Ben), Larry (Amy), Kris (Grace), Maggie (BJ), Angie (Chris), Andy, Allison (Bryan), Ashley (Cody), Grant, Lance, Miranda (Scott), Jackie (Julie), Josephine, Graham, Lael, and Dakota; 21 great-grandchildren that lit up his life and brought the kid out in him each and every time they were together although he never needed an excuse to scare, tease or tickle someone with a loud “diiiiiiiidit” and a great big contagious laugh.

He was all of his grandchildren’s biggest fan. He was so proud of all of them and let EVERYONE know it every chance he had, boasting about their singing, dancing, sports, or school accomplishments or abilities.

We will forever remember him singing, “I’ll be down to get you in a taxi honey” and listening to him recite the “Two Irishmen Rhyme.”

Duane is preceded in death by his wives Marjorie Mahrt and Merna Mahrt; his parents; son Jeff Mahrt; daughter Lynn Monroe; sister Louise Chilson; sister-in-law Gola Bales; sister-in-law Eunice Snyder; brother-in-law Bob Chilson; brother-in-law Cecil Snyder; and grandson Gregory Mahrt.

Casket Bearers are Travis Mahrt, Larry Kukuk Jr., Kris Kukuk, Andy Mahrt, Ben Stabe, BJ Wylie, Chris McMullen, Bryan Borchers, and Cody Dyhrkopp.