Duane Rexroat

June 4, 2008

Rufus Duane Rexroat, 74, of Stratford, Iowa passed away at the Stratford Nursing and Rehab Center in Stratford on Sunday afternoon, June 1, 2008, after a period of declining health with Alzheimer. Duane was born July 6, l933 on the family farm in Woolstock, Iowa the son of Rufus and Marie (Carlson) Rexroat. The family later moved to a farm northeast of Stratford in 1936. After graduating from Stratford High School in 1952, Duane entered the service serving in the Army, from April 1953 to March 1955, including tours in Germany. After his military service, Duane returned to Stratford where he worked as an independent gravel hauler and farmer. He also worked at the Stratford CO-OP, Franklins and the Seneca Street City Foundry until taking over the family farm in 1963. In April of 1984, he married Shirlee Haub. The couple later divorced. After retiring and the family farm sold, Duane moved into town in 2002. His home was among those damaged during the Stratford tornado in 2006. Duane was a member of the American Legion Frederick Sonsksen Post #576 of Stratford and was proud to serve in the Honor Guard for funeral detail and on Memorial Day. He enjoyed spending time visiting and having coffee with his friends almost daily. Duane will be missed by his brother and sisters and will be remembered as a loving uncle who always had motor scooters, go carts and motorcycle rides waiting for his nieces and nephews. Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus and Marie Rexroat. He is survived by five sisters; DeLoris Lundvall and husband Paul of Pilot Mound, Iowa, Shirley Jenner and husband Charles of Los Alamitos, California, Gloria Ulrick of Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Judy Elsberry of Boone, Iowa, Mary Rexroat of Des Moines, Iowa; one brother Don Rexroat and wife Marsha of Williams, Iowa; 11 nieces and nephews; 21 great-nieces and great-nephews and one great-great nephew. Services will be held on Thursday morning, June 5th at 10:00 a.m. at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Stratford, Iowa with Lay Minister Gina Spohnheimer officiating. Interment with military honors conducted by the American Legion Frederick Sonsksen Post #576 of Stratford will be in the Oakwood Cemetery north of Stratford. Friends may call at the Calvary United Methodist Church on Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. to greet friends. Visitations will continue on Thursday morning at the Church from 8:30 p.m. until the time of service.