DuWayne Loop

DuWayne Loop

1938 - 2025

DuWayne Loop, age 87, of Grand Rapids, Minnesota passed away on August 7, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

DuWayne was born in 1938 to Lester and Pearl (Ellingson) Loop in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. They later relocated to International Falls, Minnesota where he attended high school and met his wife, Virginia (Mauer), while working at Standard Lumber Company. After a brief stint in Virginia, Minnesota, DuWayne and Virginia relocated with their children to Grand Rapids in 1965 where he was the retail manager of Cohasset Mill & Lumber Company. DuWayne attended Duluth Business College, obtained his real estate license and went on to form his own company, Loop General Contracting, designing and building numerous homes in the area, including their own spectacular retirement home on Shoal Lake.

DuWayne had a deep love of nature, horses, acoustic guitar music, reading, drawing and ice skating (he even created a rink in the backyard one year which the family loved). Some of his fondest memories were of growing up on a working farm and doing tasks beyond his years. DuWayne was also an inventor on the side, obtaining several patents including one for EZ-Clip Door Systems. Over the years, DuWayne and Virginia would regularly have a fabulous vegetable garden which they maintained while working and raising their family. In later years they greatly enjoyed touring the Midwest, East Coast and parts of Europe while visiting their children.

DuWayne is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Virginia; son Bill Loop of Warroad, MN; daughters Dianne (Carl) Cochrane of Sturgeon Bay, WI, Cynthia (Mark) Richner of Schafisheim, Switzerland, Shari Arndell of Bloomfield, NJ; grandchildren Michael Loop, Christine Duax, Jared Cochrane, Elena Kornis, Lawrence Richner, Dominic Richner, Manon Arndell; and eight great grandchildren.

He is also survived by his brothers John (Janet) Loop and Gary (Betsy) Loop; sister Mary (John) Engelking; cousin Ken (Barb) Ellingson, and numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews.

DuWayne was preceded in death by his parents Lester and Pearl (Ellingson) Loop; brother Leslie (Leslie) Loop; and sisters JoAnn (James) Sather and Marcella (Fred) Foyt.

A visitation will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025 beginning at 10:30 AM at Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids, MN with a memorial service to follow at 11:30 AM at the funeral home. Chaplin Richie Danielson will officiate.

Arrangements are with Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.