Duane Louis Klink, 86, was born on the family farm on Dec. 31, 1938, to Milton and Louise (Kuehl) Klink. After a very difficult bout with Covid in 2020, living with the pain of Multiple Myeloma since 2021 and on dialysis with kidney disease for the past year, he passed away on Oct. 16, 2025, surrounded by his loving family at home in the same room he was born in.
Duane was baptized and confirmed at Peace United Church of Christ where he was a lifetime member.
He worked along-side his parents on the farm from a very young age. Being raised as an only child, there are fond memories of goofing around while doing chores with his cousin Curt, who was like a brother. He attended Downey elementary school on Chicken Ridge Road and often talked about walking to school with his cousins or taking his pony and cart across the gravel road, tipping it over a time or two. Graduating in 1957, he had participated in band, chorus, basketball, track and FFA, earning the Iowa Farmers Degree and serving as FFA President his senior year. Duane took over the farm shortly after graduation when his dad became deputy sheriff.
He enjoyed going to Lakeside Ballroom and, in 1958, after three times of asking a girl if he could take her home (said he wasn’t going to ask again), she consented. That night started a long, loving relationship. Duane married Dolores Dietrich on June 10, 1960, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo.
In 1961, he was presented with the American Farmer Award. They welcomed their first child, Denise, in 1962, and another daughter, Diane, in 1965, followed by two sons, Dennis in 1967 and David in 1970. He was a hard-working man, sometimes staying up all night to plant and harvest while still taking care of horses, cows, pigs, sheep and chickens. As the kids grew up, he taught them how to love their family land and animals. However, he also took time to have fun with family and friends while boating, water skiing, square dancing, camping, snowmobiling and country dancing. He enjoyed being a member of several bowling leagues and was given the nickname of Duke. Duane and Dolores were members of the Chicken Ridge Card Club for over 40 years with many neighbors/friends. He was a very social person and would stay up all hours of the night talking with people from as far away as he could get on the CB radio using the handle of Ram Rod. The family was always running on “Klink Time” because he would talk with every person he met. He was a member of the Elkader Jaycees, Farm Bureau, Congressman Culvers Ag Committee, Farm Business Association Board, Pork Producers, Beef Producers, Young Cooperatives (Swiss Valley Milk Producers), Hospital Board, Church Council, 19 years on the REC Board, 20 years on the Bank Board and a lifetime member of the Genie Society. He was proud to have visited 49 of the 50 states.
Duane is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Dolores Klink of Elkader; three children, Denise (Roger) Gruwell, Dennis Klink (Angi Greeno) both of Cedar Rapids, and David Klink (Misty Baker) of Elkader; seven grandchildren, Aaron (Maddy) Gruwell, Allison (Dustin) Atkinson, Brandon (Lizzie) Klink, Derek Klink (Christine Allaire), Dylan Klink, Cody Klink and Ashley (Jacob) Tippie; three great-grandchildren, Beckham and Baylor Gruwell and Dean Atkinson; sister-in-law, Jane Dietrich; brother-in-law, AlDean Dietrich; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Louise; sister, Helen; in-laws, Erwin and Gladys Dietrich; grandparents; daughter, Diane; daughter-in-law, Tina Klink; brother-in-law, Duane Dietrich; and several extended family members.
Memorials may be made to St. Croix Hospice, Elkader Genie Society, Central Community School FFA or Elkader Ambulance.
Visitation was held at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home in Elkader on Oct. 21, and before the service at the church. Services were held on Oct. 22, at Peace United Church of Christ, Elkader, with Pastor Paula Anderson presiding. Interment followed at East Side Cemetery in Elkader.
Leonard Grau Funeral Home of Elkader is assisting the family.
