Thief River Falls - Duane Brown, 55, died Saturday, February 13, 1999 at his home in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 19 at First Baptist Church in Thief River Falls with Reverend Ron Gullman officiating. Judy Johnson will be the organist, and vocal music will be provided by Diane Gullman and Twyla Hicks. Casketbearers will be Norm Halsa, Willis Roberts, Richard Johnson, Dudley Johnson, Gary Johnson and Sherman Johnson. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from noon until 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 18 at Green Funeral Home with a 7 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Duane Glenn Brown was born on April 5, 1943 in Hallock, the son of Glenn and Florence (Ingeman) Brown. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church. He grew up in Hallock and attended school there, graduating from high school in 1961. He attended the Thief River Falls Area Vocational Technical Institute (AVTI) in 1961-62 in the automotive department. On July 27, 1963 he was united in marriage to Linda Johnson at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls, and the couple celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary last summer.
In 1962 Duane went into the automobile repair profession, working at Wiener Motors, Thibert's in Red Lake Falls and Custom Motors. In 1969 he began his teaching career as an instructor in the automotive department at the Thief River Falls AVTI, now Northland Community and Technical College. During his more than 28-year career he became the first person in Thief River Falls to become certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in all eight certification categories.
Duane often occupied the summers and other spare time with a variety of ventures, including raising chinchillas and various sales-related businesses.
He enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, carpentry, woodworking and spending time with his family. After the children were grown, he and Linda enjoyed camping and traveling.
Duane is survived by his mother, Florence of Thief River Falls; his wife, Linda of Thief River Falls; one son, Kevin (Carol) of Thief River Falls; one daughter, Kristi (Mark) Appell of New Richmond, WI; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father. A00003B1999FB17