Duane R. Luethje

A memorial graveside service for Duane R. Luethje will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Highland Cemetery in Bertrand, Nebraska, with family friend, Mike Wicks officiating. The family encourages everyone in attendance to bring your own chair to the graveside service. A time of fellowship and remembrance will follow at the Bertrand Community Building.

The service will be recorded and posted to the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100033954344066

Duane Roy Luethje, 73 years of age, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at Ambassador Health in Lincoln. Duane was born on October 9, 1949, in Seward, Nebraska, the youngest of three children, born to Wayne and Lucille (Pollock) Luethje. Duane was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Benedict. He received his primary education in Cordova and Benedict, and then attended Bertrand High School, graduating with the class of 1967. Duane then earned a Business Certificate from the Lincoln School of Commerce.

On January 29, 1972, he was united in marriage to Jayne Carlene Felker of Loomis at the Evangelical Free Church in Loomis, and the couple enjoyed celebrating their anniversary (on Kansas Day) for 50 years. Duane & Jayne ran Duane's Standard Service station in Bertrand, and Duane managed Bertrand Coop Oil before he was offered a position managing the grain elevator in Ong. He worked in and/or managed grain elevators and co-ops in Ong, Milligan, McCook, Holdrege, Overton, Bertrand, and Bird City, Kansas, for more than 35 years. Duane managed the Bertrand Elevator and Coop until his retirement in 2005. Duane wasn't the type to be idle in retirement long. Soon after, he began working part-time for D&T Cattle Company, Highline Golf Course, and C-Plus in Bertrand, as well as Midway Chevrolet in Kearney.

Duane was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand and Our Saviors Lutheran in Lincoln. He also held several leadership positions in the community, including serving as President of the Chamber, member of the Bertrand Community Club and Lions Club, and member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church Council.

In 2009, Duane was diagnosed with throat cancer, but with the dedicated care of the team at the Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center in Omaha, led by Dr. William Lydiatt, Duane was able to enjoy a rich life and make many memories with his loved ones in the years since.

Duane and Jayne were blessed with two daughters: Lindy and Lori. In 2015, the couple moved to Lincoln to be near their daughters and families.

Duane enjoyed camping, fishing, playing golf, baseball, softball, and making new friends. He was an avid Husker sports fan and enjoyed traveling with friends to many sporting events through the years. Duane was always ready with a good joke or story. Most of all, he loved to spend time with his grandchildren and attend their activities. Duane was probably most well-known for playing on the 1966 and 1967 runner-up state basketball teams. (Go Vikings!)

He was preceded in death by his parents; Wayne and Lucille Luethje; infant son, Bradley Todd Luethje; father-in-law, Carl Felker; and sister-in-law, Jean Felker.

Survivors include his wife, Jayne Luethje of Lincoln; two daughters: Lindy Harig and her husband, Richard; and Lori Romano and her husband, Steven, all of Lincoln; grandchildren: Thorin and Odin Harig, and Cadence and Henry Romano of Lincoln; mother-in-law, Harriet Sand of Kearney; two sisters: Jolene Friesen and husband Lyle of Henderson, Nebraska; and Vinnetta Fahrenbruch and husband, Doug of Bertrand; two brothers-in-law: Harry Felker of Lincoln; and Tim Felker and his wife, Leslie of Kearney; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and many friends.

There will be no visitation or memorial book signing. The family has honored Duane's wish for cremation.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Duane's honor and kindly suggested to the Bertrand Volunteer Fire & Rescue or the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.