Duane Hurd

Duane Hurd, age 75, of Staples, MN, died Friday, July 20, 2001, at St. Mary?s Hospital in Rochester, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM, on Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, with Father Tim Wenzel officiating. Friends may call at the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples on Monday evening, from 5 to 8 PM, with prayers being held at 7 PM. Burial will be in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples. Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.
Duane Harold Hurd was born on February 15, 1926, in Bagley, MN, to Roy and Lydia (Gehrts) Hurd. It was in Bagley that he grew up and attended school. Following school he entered the U.S. Navy where he proudly served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. Upon his honorable discharge he returned to Minnesota and lived in Keewatin, MN, where he worked in the mines. On July 31, 1949, Duane was united in marriage to Mary Ann Milkovich in Bagley. Duane worked road construction for many years living in many different places throughout the United States. In August of 1965, they moved to Staples where Duane was the Lead Heavy Equipment Instructor at the Staples Area Vocational Institute for 25 years, retiring in 1991. He enjoyed his retirement by fishing, hunting, playing cards and vacationing. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Staples VFW. Above all else Duane enjoyed the precious time spent with wife, children and grandchildren.

Duane is survived by his wife, Mary ?Mitzi?; 2 daughters, Gail (Jerry) Neuschwander of West Plains, MO and Linda (Russ) Ellenbaum of Topeka, KS; 2 sons, Robert (Patrice) Hurd of Bemidji, MN and John (Darcy) Hurd of Champlin, MN; 10 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Twyla Gossack of Winsor, CA and Kaye Einevall of Oakley, CA; and 1 brother, Vern Hurd of Bagley. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Hurd; his mother, Lydia Stave; his stepfather, Charles Stave and his granddaughter, Mary Jean Neuschwander.