Duane K. Kapplinger, 81, of Kiester, died Aug. 19, 2009, at the United Hospital in Blue Earth. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester. The Rev. Dick Steffen will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery in Kiester.
Duane K. Kapplinger was born Dec. 8, 1927, in Kiester, the son of Theodore and Vera (Naumann) Kapplinger. Duane graduated from Kiester High School in 1945. He went on to attend Luther College. On Feb. 5, 1950, he was united in marriage to Betty Sorenson in Kiester. They farmed in the Kiester area for many years. Duane also assembled combines for Sime Equipment for several years until he bought into the Kiester Implement dealership with his brother Barry in the early 1970s. He retired a couple of years ago when he sold his portion to Barry, though he would still go to help out. Duane was an active member of his church, the local Lions Club and the community of Kiester. He enjoyed attending tractor pulls on Saturdays, bowling and square dancing in his early years. His passion was golf, which he learned at age 65 and continued until three weeks before his death.
He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Kapplinger, of Kiester; three children: Kathleen (husband Marlin) Anderson of Kiester, Kim (wife Nolie) Kapplinger of Spring Grove, Kent (wife Eunice) Kapplinger of Fargo, N.D.; six grandchildren: Mitchell (wife Becky) Anderson of Rochester, Paula (husband Gary) Hitterdal of Kasson, Annette Anderson (and friend Brian Hoover) of Stewartville, Jill (husband Ty) Huber of Rochester, Jenny (husband Tyler) Clementson of Sioux Falls, S.D., Jamie (wife Kara) Kapplinger of Byron; six great-grandchildren: Jordan and Elijah Anderson, Preston and Morgan Hitterdal, Isaiah and Ida Huber. Duane is also survived by his brother, Barry (wife Marcy) of Kiester; nephew Steven (wife Nicole) Kapplinger of Jackson; niece Carla (husband Chad) Goerish of Mankato; three aunts: Madeline Naumann of Brewster, Elvira Thompson of the Twin Cities, Eva Thorson of Alden, as well as many cousins and their families, and Jasper, the cat.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Vera, and his son, Timothy, in infancy.