Duane Waters, 75, St. Cloud

July 27, 1941 - September 3, 2016

A private service will be held for family and close friends at a later date for Duane Waters, age 75, who passed away from complications after a stroke on September 3, 2016 at St. Benedict’s Senior Community, St. Cloud. Arrangements entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, St. Cloud.

Duane Allen "Abe" Waters was born on July 27, 1941 to Dorothy (Walby) and George Waters in Guttenberg, IA. He played football, Babe Ruth baseball, and restled while growing up in Hampton, IA. He graduated from Hampton High School in 1959 and attended Iowa State Teacher's College (ISTC) in Cedar Falls, IA, where he was given the nickname of "Abe," one of his favorite and often told stories. At ISTC he played football and wrestled for the Panther's. In his college football career he was a first-team all-conference selection and a co-captain. His 1963 team was inducted into the UNI Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. At ISTC Duane met Barbara Lynne Patterson of Waterloo, IA. The couple married at the time of his college graduation on April 14,1963 and made their home in Sumner, IA. His first post college job was teaching high school history, and acting as head football and wrestling coach at Wapsie Valley. It was during that time they welcomed their daughter, Cynthia Lynne. They moved to Atlantic, IA in 1966 when Duane began his career with Josten's, Inc. as a sales manager in the ring division. Their son, Patrick Michael was welcomed shortly after. While in Atlantic, Duane was active in their church, community theater, and the Jaycees. Duane's career moved the family to Iowa City in 1975. There, he was involved with Barbershop Chorus, played in a men's basketball league, officiated wrestling, and was an Iowa wrestling super fan, even co-founding the Hawkeye Area Wrestling Club (H.A.W.K.). The couple divorced in 1982 and Duane left Josten's, Inc. and worked at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance as an Agent for five years, before moving to Southern California where he owned a limousine and operated his own limo company for nearly two decades. In 2004 he moved to Brainerd, MN to be closer to family. He moved to St. Cloud in 2008 and was a member of the Singing Saints Barbershop Chorus for two years. Health issues riddled him for the last seven years of his life. He will always be remembered for his ever-happy demeanor, over-told jokes, ready smile, and singing voice!

Duane leaves behind his children Cindy Steinke (St. Cloud, MN) and Pat Waters (Steamboat Springs, CO); grandchildren Brittany Petersen (Chicago, IL), Lauren Steinke (St. Cloud, MN), Isaac and Sophia Waters (Steamboat Springs, CO); siblings Arland (Carol) Waters of Akeley, MN and Naples, FL, and Julie Waters Minor of Nisswa; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy Irene and George Michael; infant sister, Janette, and infant brother, Gary; and son-in-law, Todd James Steinke.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association of MN. The family also wishes to express deep gratitude for the caring staff at St. Benedict's Senior Community, especially the third floor memory care unit.