Duane Dufner

Duane Dufner, 49 of Watkins, passed away on January 6, 2011 at his home. Funeral services were held on Monday at 10:30 am at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in St. Nicholas. Interment was in the St. Nicholas Cemetery. Rev. Thomas Olson officiated. Arrangements were by the Ertl Funeral Home, Watkins. Duane Dufner was born to Val and Theresa Dufner on April 1, 1961 in Richmond. He was united in marriage to Sharla Richter on Oct. 16, 1982 at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Duane worked at Cold Spring Granite for about 12 years. He then worked for St. Cloud MTC where he was a bus driver for 17 years until health difficulties forced him to retire. Duane was a member of the Teamsters Union and served two terms as the district steward. He was selected as a MN state driver of the year and was selected to represent the union as a bus driver at the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Duane also enjoyed the bus rodeo and competed in three national and several state and local rodeos. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, woodworking, photography and playing cribbage. He especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Survivors include his wife, Sharla Dufner of Watkins; daughters, Amanda Walters, Melissa Dufner, Kayla Dufner and Vanessa Dufner, all of Watkins; father, Val Dufner of Watkins; father-in-law, Ted Richter of Roscoe; mother-in-law, Dee TerWisscha of Granton, WI; brothers and sisters and their spouses, David and Mayen Dufner of Albertville, Donald and Stacy Dufner of Belleville, IL, Dale Dufner and his friend, Janet Kuechle of Eden Valley, Dennis and Lisa Dufner of Cold Spring, Deanna and Robert Kulzer of Farming, Daniel Dufner of St. Cloud, Debra and Dan Goebel of St. Martin, Dean and Nancy Dufner of Cold Spring; 3 god children and many nieces and nephews. Duane was preceded in death by his mother, Theresa Dufner, brothers, Douglas and Darren Dufner; step mother-in-law, Trish Richter.