June 28, 1924 – April 29, 2010

Duane Vern Meyer, 85, of La Crosse, passed away Thursday, April 29, 2010, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center, La Crosse.|

Duane was born June 28, 1924, and attended school in Holmen, graduating in 1943. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy, serving with the U.S. Naval Armed Guard on merchant ships during World War II from January 1943 until May 1946. He was called back into the Navy in September 1950 during the Korean War, serving on an attack troop transport in Korea. During this time, he spent three months in a military hospital in Okinawa with malaria and was discharged in 1951. Duane moved to Milwaukee in 1952 and worked for the Bark River Culvert Equipment Company as a parts and sales manager for more than 34 years, retiring in 1986. He then became a Waukesha school crossing guard for eight years.

He was married to Gert Huseby in 1960, and she preceded him in death in 1990. Both Gert and Duane were very active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, with Duane serving as post commander of VFW Post No. 2874 in Milwaukee, and he was a life member of the Soat-Vergenz VFW Post No. 721 in Waukesha. He was also a life member of the American Legion Post No. 52 in La Crosse. Duane was an active volunteer at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in La Crosse, Meals On Wheels and other various organizations. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling and wood crafts.

Duane is survived by his wife, Elvira of La Crosse; his daughter, Bonnie (Charles) Burton; grandsons, Richard Burton, David Burton and John (Kim) Burton; great-grandsons, David James Burton and Eric John Burton; great-granddaughter, Abby Marie Burton; stepsons, James Kidd and Daniel (Ping Hu) Kid; step grandsons, Matthew and Aaron Kidd; step granddaughter, Kristen Kidd (Courtney) Donovan; one brother, Harley (Helen) Meyer; two sisters, Gweneth (Norm) Basthemer and Cathy Werve; one sister-in-law, Christine Meyer; and many nieces and nephews.

Duane was preceded in death by his first wife, Gert Meyer; his parents; three brothers, Charles (Flora), George (Marguerite) and Edward Meyer; and one stepdaughter-in-law, Barbara Kidd.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 3, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in La Crosse with military honors by the Roy L. Vingers American Legion Post No. 52 of La Crosse and the U.S. Navy Funeral Honor Guard. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 7, in Prairie Home Cemetery, 605 South Prairie Ave., Waukesha, with military honors performed by the Soat-Vergenz VFW Post No. 721 of Waukesha. Those attending this burial should meet in their cars at the chapel in the cemetery.

Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home of La Crosse, 608-788-3310, is assisting the family.