Duaine Braden

Grinnell. Duaine Braden, 82, of Grinnell and formerly of Oskaloosa, died Tuesday, March 4, 2025, under hospice care at home in Grinnell. He was born January 12, 1943, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the son of Archie and Rosa Lockard Braden. He attended Oskaloosa Schools. On August 31, 1963, he was united in marriage to Sharon Allgood in Lancaster, Missouri. Early on Duaine worked as a local union 106 Millwright. He worked on many projects including the Chillicothe Power Plant in Chillicothe, Iowa, and at the Cargill Corn Milling facility in Eddyville. He earned his A.A. in Criminal Justice from Indian Hills Community College. He then went to work as a security guard on the William Penn College Campus, retiring from there in 2003. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Oskaloosa he coached the men's softball team for the church and helped with the men's league missionary trips to Costa Rica and El Salvador. He was a faithful follower of Jimmy Swaggart televangelist. He enjoyed hunting (especially coon hunting), fishing, camping, going to Arizona to see family and listening to southern gospel music. In the 1980's he worked at the RAAH Speedway as a Pit Steward. He loved to "wheel and deal" Duaine was always looking for a bargain that he may be able to flip for a profit. Duaine would say "see u at the "house" (heaven). He was a faithful husband, father, gpa, great gpa, brother, uncle and friend to all. He dearly loved his family, with a deep love for his grandkids.
His family includes his wife of 61 years, Sharon Braden of Grinnell; three children, Todd (Mona) Braden of Oskaloosa, Traci Braden of Oskaloosa, and Trevern Braden of Grinnell; twelve grandchildren, Tyler, Austin, Kassidy, Maddy, Morgan, Emily, Kylee, Dawson, Macy, Braylee, Zayne, and Rylee; nine great grandchildren ; a sister, Judy Tropel of Phoenix, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.
Duaine was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Troy Braden; four brothers, Don, LuVern, Leon, and Ronnie "Whitey" Braden; and two sisters, Pauline Walker and Darlene Sams.
As was Duaine's wish, he was cremated. Services are pending. Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.