Duane Bredlow

     Duane Allen Bredlow passed away on Jan. 13, 2013 at Concord Care Center, in Garner, Iowa.  

    A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, Iowa, with  the Rev. Keith Scott officiating.  Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 3:30 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will be at Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme, Iowa.  Military Honors will be presented at the cemetery.  Memorials may be given to Toys for Tots. 

     He was the first of seven children born to Clarence and Annabelle Bredlow, born Nov. 14, 1930, in rural Klemme.  He graduated from Swaledale High School in 1949.  He joined the United States Marine Corps in August 1951 and was based in Del Mar, Calif.  He achieved the rank of Sergeant and following his discharge in 1953, he married Jane Pauline Blair and the newlyweds moved back to rural Rockwell, Iowa.  To this union four children were born, Denice, David, William and Julie.  He farmed for many years before working at the Crystal Sugar sugar beet factory in Mason City.  He also worked as a mechanic at the Blue Ribbon Beef meat packing company in Mason City and then Libby Owens Ford Glass Company in Mason City.  He moved to San Bernadino, Calif., in 1973 and married Bettye “Maureen” Siddons.  In 1975, he and Maureen moved to Lincoln, Neb.  Duane worked for the City of Lincoln for several years before taking a job as a mechanic at National Crane Company in Waverly, Neb.  Following Maureen’s death, he moved to St. Mary, Neb., in 1984.  He retired from National Crane in 1995 and subsequently worked part-time for Field Ford Mercury in Tecumseh, Neb.  In early 2002, he moved to Thornton, Iowa, where he lived until the time of his death.  While in Thornton, he started his own business with his son and two grandchildren mowing local cemeteries.  

     Duane enjoyed hunting trips with his sons, being a member of the NRA, and many fun times with family.

     Duane is survived by his children, Denice Bredlow of Rochester, Minn.;  David (Sue) Bredlow of Dell Rapids, S.D.; William (Julie) Bredlow of Clear Lake; and Julie Zimmermann of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; ten grandchildren, Armen (Mary) Varjabedian of California, Jennifer Varjabedian of California, Kim (Chet) Pascoe of Colorado, Amy (Brian) Prue of Oregon, Coleman Bredlow of South Dakota, Caramie (Justin Faini) Bredlow of South Dakota, Zachery Bredlow of Iowa, Rebeca Bredlow of Iowa, Hailey Zimmermann of California and Jack Zimmermann of California; five great-grandchildren, Noaha Pascoe, Makenaha Pascoe, Sophia Prue, Collin Prue, and Lucy Faini; sisters, Nola (Roger) Johnson of Charles City, Iowa, Letha (Keith) Markwardt of Mason City, Myra (Dale) Karsjens of Mason City, and Velma (Jerry) Mondahl of Mason City; sister-in-law, Marlene (Dennis) Bredlow of Plymouth, Minn.; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

    Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Annabelle, and brothers, Delmar and Dennis Bredlow.

     Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.