Military funeral services for Duane Raymond Vinge will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea with the Rev. Curtis Zieske officiating. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery.

Duane died at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester of a massive heart attack on Oct. 20, 2003, his 47th wedding anniversary.

He was born Nov. 26, 1932, in Albert Lea the son of Nels and Amanda Vinge. He was baptized on Dec. 18, 1932, and confirmed on May 11, 1947, at Lime Creek Lutheran Church in Emmons. He graduated from Emmons High School in 1950.

On Oct. 20, 1956, Duane was united in marriage to Charlotte Sorenson at Trinity Lutheran Church. They had two sons: Steven Vinge of Woodbury, and Gary Vinge and wife Loel of Clarks Grove. He was also a proud grandpa of twin girls: Lily May and Bailey Shannon Vinge.

Duane served in the military during the Korean War from April 1953 to April 1955. He worked for Wilson Foods and Farmstead Foods for 34 years in the plant in special beef cuts and in the shop as an electrician. After the plant closed, he worked several years for Tri-State Elevators installing handicap elevators in churches, schools, and homes.

Duane was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on the financial committee and also was a member of the American Legion, the Eagles, and the Elks.

Through the years Duane was happy to have traveled on vacations in all 50 states with Charlotte, Steve and Gary. The last nine years they wintered in Pharr, Texas. His family was always first and foremost to him. Duane was a very handyman and enjoyed most the time he spent helping his family at their homes.

The end of July, Duane was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, and was under treatment for which he accepted with grace and dignity, the same as he lived the rest of his life.

Duane is survived by his wife, Charlotte; sons: Steven Vinge and Gary Vinge and wife Loel; granddaughters: Lily and Bailey Vinge; one sister, Noreen and her husband Ronald Burdick of Lake Mills, Iowa; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Roger and Phyllis Sorenson, Herbert and Caroline Sorenson, Harold and Dawn Runden, and Lorraine Sorenson, all of Albert Lea; and also nieces and nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Nels and Amanda Vinge; his mother- and father-in-law: Carl and Mabel Sorenson; and brother-in-law, LeMoyne Sorenson.

Our hearts are heavy but the Lord has blessed us with many great memories to cling to of our blessed husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and brother Duane. Till we meet again in Heaven, rest in peace.