Duane A. Buttler

Funeral service for Duane Allen Buttler, 73, of rural Gilbert, will be 11am Monday, February 4, 2013 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with Pastor Daniel Miller officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial with military honors accorded by the Gilbert VFW Post will be in the Biwabik Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Duane died Thursday, January 31, 2013 at his residence. He was born August 1, 1939 in Shovel Lake, MN to Merle and Florence (Scofield) Buttler. Duane was a 1957 graduate of Hill City High School and enlisted with the US Army on December 2, 1958 until March 1962. He served in Germany and also two years with the Army Reserves. In 1964 he joined the Local 49 Operating Engineers working in North Dakota, being on the very first crew to excavate for the missile bases there. In the early 1970's he joined IBEW Local 292 in Minneapolis, working for both unions as the season dictated. His jobs were varied and included Northern Electric in Virginia, Range Taconite Plants, Blandin Paper, Cohasset MPL Power House and in 2003 the St. Paul/Minneapolis Airport expansion. He was involved with the building of Concourses A & B, until his medical retirement. During his many years working for Local 49, he worked from Michigan to North Dakota on various pipeline jobs; as well as road building Interstate 35, Crosstown 94 in Mpls/St. Paul, 169 Range Cities and Hwy 53. Duane was known to all as a hard worker and a man to depend on. On October 3, 2003 he married Barbara Streets. Together they began to remodel and built an addition on to their home, which was a great source of pride and joy to them. Travel also was a part of their lives as they toured most of the United States, Jamaica and Mexico. Together they also established a monthly Pot Luck at the Biwabik Township Hall which is enjoyed by many. Duane was a member of the Gilbert VFW Post. He enjoyed time spent at his saw mill, gardening, spear fishing, riding his Harley, camping, four wheeling with Barb and his many garage projects. He especially enjoyed time spent with his family and his constant companion, his yellow lab, Holly. Duane will be deeply missed by his wife, Barb; son, Danny (Lynelle Gentile); step children: Curt (Lisa) Ortler, Scott (Kathy) Ortler, Kristine (Brad) Holmes, Cara (Ken) VanEpps and Bobby Streets; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren and two expected great grandchildren; siblings: Betty (Laverne) Thomas, Muriel Johnson and Jim (Betty) Buttler; several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.