Duane William Hershberger, 76, died Fri, Jul 1, 2011, at his home in Kalkaska surrounded by his loving family, following a courageous fight against cancer. He was born on Sep 23, 1934, and raised on a small farm in Fairview, MI, the son of Levi Miller and Elva Mae (Oaks) Hershberger.
He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Jacqueline Maide (Bergdoll Frey) Hershberger; his children, Michael Duane (Kim) Hershberger of Kalkaska, Gail Hollee (Gary) Macomber of Cicero, IN, Mitchell Wayne (Nan) Hershberger of Mancelona, Gaye Erie (Lloyd) Brueggeman of Williamsburg, Wendi Lea Hudson of Shelby Township; and Jodi Lynn (Gary) Crandall of Clarkston; two brothers, Lotus Dean (Judy) Hershberger of Normal, IL, and Virgil Stanwyn (Margaret) Hershberger of Fairview; 16 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; as well as two of Jacqueline's children, Christopher John Frey and Jennifer Amy Diamond and three grandchildren, all of whom he dearly loved.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lyle Bernell Hershberger; a granddaughter, Crystal Hershberger; and his first wife of 47 years, Lydia Marie (Bailey) Hershberger.
After graduation from Fairview High School in 1953, Duane married Lydia on Dec 5, 1953. Shortly after in Oct 1954, they moved to Sanilac County where, as a conscientious objector during the Korean War, he worked as a dairy tester for two years and after that in Hemstreet Orchards in Bellaire for two years.
In April 1958, the family of four moved to Sleepy Hollow, CA, where Duane worked at a dairy ranch for two years and became proficient at feeding livestock for best milk production. Wanting to be close to home, the family, now with three children, moved back to Fairview and then in 1961 to Kalkaska where the fourth child was born and two more children adopted into the family in 1969 and 1970.
Duane ran the local feed store here until 1968. Being a farmer at heart, he left the feed store to focus on his own hog operation. However, for financial and religious reasons, eh sold the hogs after eight years. He was offered a job with Northwood Transport, Incorporated in December 1971, where he remained for over 26 yeas in various positions as a driver hauling everything from pies to liquid asphalt, as a sales rep and as a dispatcher for the company.
During this time he became part owner and president of AdventAge Products, Inc, a small family business which has been in operation for over 20 years. Duane retired from Northwood on Jan 2, 1998, and was enjoying retirement when Lydia was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2000. She died the following Oct 15.
Duane then became a volunteer at the Battle Creek Lifestyle Center of the Seventh-day Adventist Church where he met Jackie who was working as a physician there. They were married in the chapel of the Battle Creek Heritage Village on Jul 22, 2001.
Duane had a wonderful sense of humor, even near the end and uncanny ability to calculate figures in his head and remember dates and phone numbers.
He was active in his Kalkaska SDA church. He traveled extensively throughout the US mostly in his motor home. He and Jackie bought a small home in Titusville, Fl intending to avoid the snow and cold of winter in Kalkaska.
Eight months of this past year were spent in Houston, TX where Duane was receiving treatment for his pancreatic cancer at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Duane was loved dearly by his entire family and many friends. He will be missed greatly but is resting in peace now, awaiting the coming of his Lord and Savior to take him to his final home.
A memorial service is planned for Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm at Kalkaska Funeral Home.
