Duane Francis Gage

Lester, IA Duane Gage, age 86 of Lester, IA died Saturday, March 29, 2008 at his home in Lester. The celebration of Duanes life will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2nd at the Seeds of Faith United Methodist Church in Lester, with Rev. Don Nelson, officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery at Lester. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 1st from 2:00" 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at the Seeds of Faith United Methodist Church in Lester. The Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids is handling arrangements. Duane was born in Lester, Iowa in 1921 to Charles and Mattie Gage where he graduated high school in 1936. Both Duane and his good friend Harold Swede Ageson met and fell in love with a couple of the Oliver girls. One of Duane's favorite memories was of his first date with his future wife Kathleen. They double dated with Swede and Viv to the Palisades for a picnic. The boys were so smitten they turned right around and drove the girls to Lake Okoboji and back-quite a jaunt in a '27 Chevrolet. Duane married Kathleen in 1942 and for several years following the war the young couple farmed. Duane enjoyed building things and in 1952 moved his family off the farm and into Lester opening Gage Repair, a welding and general repair shop. Duane was very gifted in the repair, design and fabrication of machinery and equipment. It was always a marvel to watch him build something useful and productive out of old cast off equipment. He truly could make junk rattle and hum. Duane's venture evolved into the feed and grain business, Gage Farm Supply, and later into Lester Trucking. He enjoyed the challenges of business, staying active in his trucking firm well into his 80's. Duane is survived by his wife of 66 years, Kathleen; his four children: Larry (wife Nancy) of Corona, CA, Laura (husband Darold) Borman of Sioux Falls, SD, Karen (husband Jeff) Page of Lees Summit, MO, and Roy (wife Rose) of Estherville, IA and ten grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Charles, and seven sisters: Rezina, Maude, Lois, Mildred, Melva, Aletha, and Lyola.