OVERAAS, DUANE R.
Duane R. Overaas, 91, of Jackson died Nov. 24, 2013, at Good Samaritan Center in Jackson.
A memorial service was Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jackson with Pastor Lance Isaacson officiating.
Inurnment with military honors provided by Jackson American Legion and VFW posts was at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery in rural Bergen.
Duane Russell Overaas was born on March 17, 1922, at his home in Jackson, the son of Ludvig and Clara (Olson) Overaas.
He attended District 79 Country School in Belmont Township and later graduated from Jackson High School in 1941. He then attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, for a year before enlisting into the U.S. Marine Corps in September of 1942.
After training, he served four years in the South Pacific as a Marine Raider, a Special Forces unit of the Marine Corps, and was involved in many important battles during World War II. Duane was honorably discharged in 1946.
He then returned to Jackson to farm with his father and brother, Pete.
In 1947, at the American Lutheran Church in Windom, he was united in marriage to Shirley Olson. Together they had four children: Lynne, Russ, Cheryl and Connie.
In 1978 in Bloomington, he was united in marriage to Lois Soleta. Duane continued to farm until his retirement in 1985. Duane stayed active managing properties in Excelsior.
He and Lois then moved to Bergen where he worked at the Bergen Locker until he retired at the age of 80.
Duane became a resident of the Jackson Good Samaritan Center on Oct. 4, 2013, where he passed away at the age of 91 years, 8 months and 7 days.
Duane was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. He was an active member in the Jackson VFW, where he served as post commander for two terms and in the community with the 4-H.
Duane enjoyed outdoor activities, including golf, sporting events and was a big fan of the Jackson teams, the Gophers, Vikings and Twins. He was always at the games of his children and grandchildren.
Duane really enjoyed activities that involved being with other people, especially younger people who helped keep him young.
Duane’s service in the Marine Corps was very important to him. He was very active in the Marine Raider Association and attended many reunions and activities around the country. His children and grandchildren were able to share his pride by attending these events with him. Duane was able to raise the flag before a Twins game at Target Field in Minneapolis. It was a highlight for him and his family.
Duane is survived by his wife, Lois of Jackson; his daughters: Lynne Johnson of Burnsville, Cheryl (Bob) Dekker of Phoenix, Ariz., and Connie (Jim) Worshek of Prior Lake; his son, Russ (Millie) Overaas of LeSueur; his stepchildren, Joanne (Randy) Nelson of Ham Lake and Larry (Janet) Soleta of Woodbury; 20 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Gwen Pitsenberger of Moorhead; a sister-in-law, Kelly Overaas of Jackson; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents; Shirley; two brothers, Pete and Lowell; sisters, Betty Kloster and Audrey Eggen; and a stepdaughter, Sheryl Hanefeld.
Blessed be the memory of Duane Russell Overaas.