Duane K. Rosenbohm
1943 – 2015
Fairfax, Missouri

Duane Keith Rosenbohm was born August 13, 1943 near Nishnabotna, Missouri, to Virgil “Toots” and Esther Bressert Rosenbohm. In 1951, his family moved to a farm near Fairfax, Missouri, where he attended elementary school at Irish Grove School. He graduated from Fairfax High School with the Class of 1961, then attended Northwest Missouri State University for approximately two years, both before and after his two years of service in the U.S. Army. Except for this military service, which included a tour of duty in the Vietnam War, Duane was a lifelong farmer, working in partnership with his father, Virgil, and his brother, Dennis. Duane loved working with cattle and the land, and he took pride in planting straight rows of corn and soybeans.

Duane had a winning smile, was quick-witted and had a wonderful sense of humor, which often took the form of pranks and practical jokes. Like many farmers, he could fix almost anything, at least for the short-term. He was also an accomplished pilot, welder, bulldozer operator, and cook. He was able to master almost anything he attempted, except golf, but he nevertheless loved to play. He also enjoyed fishing and trap shooting, and in earlier years, boating, water skiing, horseback riding and hunting in the company of his friends and his beloved Brittany spaniel, “Little Boy.”

Duane was a member of the Church of Christ in Rock Port, Missouri. He was also a member of Story-Hardin Post 164 of the American Legion in Craig, Missouri, and Voiture 1402 of the Forty and Eight, of which he served as Chef de Gare (president) for one year. He also served for several years with the American Legion’s Funeral Detail, performing military rites for deceased veterans.

In 1964, Duane married Janice Lawrence, with whom he had two sons, Chris, in 1968, and Joshua, in 1972. Duane and Janice later divorced. In December, 1985, Duane married Kay Graves Thomas, who survives him. He is also survived by his older son, Chris, daughter-in-law, Melissa, and granddaughter, Ava, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Ava was born only 14 months before Duane suffered irreversible disability following a surgery on July 20, 2010. During those first 14 months of Ava’s life, “Grandpa Duane” took every opportunity to see her, and also carried with him a folder of pictures of his new granddaughter. Ava was his pride and joy!

Duane is also survived by his elder brother and farming partner, Dennis Rosenbohm, and sister-in-law, Sharon Rosenbohm, of Rock Port, as well as his sister, Sheryl Ball, and brother-in-law, Steve Ball, of Urbandale, Iowa. Additional survivors include one stepson, John-Christopher Thomas; nieces, Dee Ann Rosenbohm Crews and Alisa Ball Cahill; nephews, Steve Rosenbohm, David Rosenbohm, Michael Ball and Brian Ball; several great-nieces and great-nephews; many members of his extended family; and many friends.

As a result of his disability, Duane had lived at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Rock Port since December, 2010. He died in Kansas City, Missouri on April 19, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger son, Joshua.

Funeral Services:
2:00 P.M., Thursday, April 23, 2015, Fairfax Christian Church, Fairfax, Missouri.
Interment: English Grove Cemetery, Fairfax, Missouri.
The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 P.M., Thursday, prior to the service at the Fairfax Christian Church.
Memorials: Forty and Eight Nurses Training Fund or English Grove Cemetery Association.
Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services: Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.