Duane Gartner
1931-2020
Our beloved father, Duane Gartner, passed away peacefully in his sleep into the loving arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, in the midnight hour of December 26, 2020 following a lengthy illness.
Duane was born on December 2, 1931 on the family farm in Herrick, South Dakota to Raymond Gartner & Mabel Smith-Gartner, the third of their four children.
Times were difficult during the Great Depression and everyone had to help out in supporting the family, which is where Duane surely developed his strong work ethic.
Following his graduation from Burke, SD High School in 1949, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country honorably for three years in Korea. He served as an assistant to the Commanding Officer.
In 1954, Duane met the love of his life, Connie Pusl, at a dance hall in Herrick. They were married the following year on June 2nd.
They welcomed their first daughter, Deborah, in 1956 and Deanna was born the following year.
In the fall of 1956, Duane decided to complete his college degree in business administration at South Dakota State University. Connie supported the young family as an English Teacher, while Duane worked several part-time jobs at nights and on weekends.
After graduating college in early 1958, Duane and Connie decided to move to Southern California, where Connie’s parents, Martin & Loree Pusl, had moved to in 1956. Their son David was born later that year.
Duane had a very successful and distinguished career in the life insurance industry and continued working into his 80s.
When Duane was a very young boy, his Grandmother, Lizzie Smith, would take him fishing at Lake Berry on the family farm. Duane developed a life-long love of fishing and was an avid big-game fisherman, having fished all over the world for the elusive marlin and other species. He even completed the Royal Grand Slam of Billfish (nine different species) twice!
Duane was an optimist with a generous spirit. He loved to hear and tell a good joke or pull a fun prank. Duane was competitive, especially-playing Cribbage or Pitch, but also in sports. He said what he meant and meant what he said. A bottom line man, with a heart of compassion. His fishing stories were not only legendary, but true!
He and Connie traveled the world, and enjoyed a remarkable marriage, which included lifelong friends by the dozens! He LIVED life to the fullest and wanted to share it with those he loved best!
Duane is pre-deceased by his parents Ray and Mabel, Connie his wife of 52 years, siblings Jack, Deloris and Dennis, and Grandson Seth.
He is survived by his children, Deborah, Deanna (Michael) and David (Kate), and by his grandchildren Brooke (Brian), Nick (Colleen), Katy (Wes) and Ronnie (Judy) along with four great-grandsons, Nolan, Bennett, Dominick and Marco.
The Gartner Family would like to thank Duane’s Caregivers for taking such wonderful care of him for many years. They looked up to him and treated him as their own father.
Due to the current COVID crisis, a Memorial Service will be held for Duane at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www. parkinson.org) or to a favorite Charity of your choice. Thank you.