Duane C. Kleinschmit
YANKTON, S.D.— Duane C. Kleinschmit, age 76, of Yankton, S.D., died Dec. 21, 2019, at his home in Yankton.
Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 27, 2019, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Menominee, with Rev. Jim Keiter officiating. Military honors were provided by the Crofton American Legion Post 31.
Burial will be in St. Boniface Cemetery at a later date.
Visitation, with a rosary and vigil service, was Dec. 26 at the Wintz and Ray Funeral Home, Yankton.
Pallbearers were Doug Schurman, Mike Manas, Kelly Mauer, Troy Schmitt, J.R. Kleinschmit,CorySudbeck,KyleKleinschmit, Lepiro Kantai.
Honorary pallbearers were his goddaughters and grandchildren.
Duane C. Kleinschmit was born Nov. 9, 1943, in Menominee, to Andrew and Agatha (Wiebelhaus) Kleinschmit. He grew up on the farm near Menominee, graduating from Crofton High School in 1962. He enlisted in the United States Army and served in Panama as a paratrooper. After he completed his service in the army, he returned to the family farm near Menominee which he eventually took over and farmed until 2004 when he retired and moved to Yankton. While he was farming, he also drove the school bus. He loved visiting with the kids and would make beef jerky for all the kids on his route.
Duane was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, the American Legion, and The Center in Yankton.
He loved visiting with friends and family and enjoyed going for coffee. He loved making salsa from his garden, jelly from his fruit trees, beef jerky and wine. He was a generous, kind and welcoming man who would help anyone who needed a hand, picking up hitchhikers and inviting them to supper or even to a Christmas Party. He loved dressing up as Santa Claus on Christmas and visiting with children. He enjoyed watching politics and westerns, and was always ready for a card game. He loved spending time with his family and especially loved his grandkids.
Survivors include his significant other, Linda Abbott, Yankton; seven children, Toni (Phillip) Stahl, Yankton, S.D.; Camille (Francis) Kantai, Wayne; Ellie Mae Kleinschmit, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Pamela (John) Dickes, Wayne; Agnes (Brad) Wissink, Lincoln; Andrew (Shelby) Kleinschmit, Omaha; and Danielle (Tony) Becker, Tea, S.D.; 15 grandchildren; three sisters, Gertie (Chan) Shippy, Colome, S.D.; Gracie (Don) Mauer, Plainview; and Andrea “Andy” Sudbeck, Fordyce; two brothers, Vernon (Patty) Kleinschmit, Pearl City, Hawaii, and Galen (Betty) Kleinschmit, St. Helena; brother-in-law, Marvin Manas, Utica, S.D.; Linda’s son, David Smith, Yankton, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Bonita; three sisters: Karen Kleinschmit, Bonita Kleinschmit and Marie Manas; and brother-in-law, Ed Sudbeck.