Duane Francis Schraeder, 79, of Butler Township passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital, unexpectedly, from natural causes.
In keeping with his wishes, Duane has been cremated and a service will be held Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Oasis of Love Family Church in Coldwater with Pastor Harold Jewell officiating.
Duane was born July 17, 1939 to Carl and Edith (Loew) Schraeder in Hopkins, MI where he grew up, attended school and the St. Paul Lutheran Church. He moved to Branch County in the 1980s and was married to Carolyn Hyatt, who preceded him in death in 2009. On May 18, 2018 he married Connie (Odisher) Ferris, who survives.
Through the years, Duane attended the Oasis of Love Church and the Christian Pilgrim Church, both in Coldwater. He retired through the Operating Engineers local #324 as a crane operator and worked on several construction job sites throughout the state; his employment took him as far as the Alaskan pipeline. Closer to home, he worked as a mechanic for an International Harvester dealership and Ken Schraeder Wrecker Service. Duane owned and operated a small welding business and built many utility trailers. In his free time he liked to go fishing and to tractor shows.
In addition to his wife, Connie, Duane is survived by his children, Duane E Schraeder of Middleville and Teresa (Carl) Lins of Middleville; his step-children, Lori (Guy) Uncle, Doug McClellan, Cheryl McClellan, Allen McClellan, Wes McClellan and Tami (Kurt) Howe; his grandchildren, Austin Schraeder, Steve Hall, Brad Hall, Keli Hoffman, Kami Uncle and Austin, Lance and Nate McClellan, great grandchildren, Graysen and Emersyn Hall, brothers Ken Schraeder and Dale Schraeder of Hopkins. He was best friends with Scott Locke, Lance Wiser, and Glen Raymond.
Duane was preceded in death by wife Carolyn Schraeder, his parents, and a sister, Joyce Earl.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Shepherd Shepherd’s Chapel Ministries, 102 8th Ave NE, Gravette, AR 72736.
