Duane Edward Bjerkness
June 18, 1935 — January 21, 2016
Duane Edward Bjerkness age 80 of Ironton died on January 21, 2016 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Duane was born on June 18, 1935 in Crosby to Edward and Rose (Beck) Bjerkness.
Duane was a US Army veteran serving during Korea. He graduated form the Crosby-Ironton High School Class of 1953. He graduated from the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. Duane married Jean Weitneuer on December 21, 1955 in Aitkin. He was employed by Erie Mining in the mid 70's and then became a start-up engineer for a pollution control company. He was a member of AA, the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crosby and the Myrin-James American Legion Post #443, of Ironton and Duane was an avid woodworker and a former private pilot.
Duane is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean; 3 sons, Michael Bjerkness of Crosby, Gregory (Katie) Bjerknes of Sarasota, FL and Marty (Robyn) Bjerkness of Merrifield; 1 sister, Ginger(Norman) Kramer of Idaho Falls, ID; four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Preceding Duane in death are his parents and daughter-in-law, Diane.
Funeral services will be 11 am on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crosby. Full military honors will be given by the Myrin-James American Legion Post. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the services at the church on Tuesday. Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.