Duane Eugene Kleinjan

Duane Eugene Kleinjan, age 89, went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 11, 2025 at the Estelline Nursing and Care Center. Funeral Services for Duane will be at 10:30 am on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Volga, SD. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 on Monday, December 22, 2025, at the Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga. A private interment will be at the Trinity Cemetery one mile west of Volga.

Duane Eugene Kleinjan was born December 29, 1935 at the Volga Hospital to J. William and Jennie (Breeschoten) Kleinjan. He was baptized in October, 1936 at the First Reformed Church in Volga. At around age 10, Duane and his parents transferred their membership to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church where the services were spoken in English. Duane attended Sunday School, choir, and the young people's catechism classes. He professed his faith in Jesus Christ as a teenager. During the course of his life, he served as an usher, Sunday School assistant-superintendent, trustee, deacon, and elder.

Duane attended his first three years of school at Oslo District 95 near his home. He then attended and graduated from the Sinai Public Schools in 1953. He attended SDSU for a short time as he continued farming and ranching with his father near Sinai. He was on the SD Farm Bureau board and enjoyed the state annual meetings and talent shows the members and their families participated in.

Duane was a member of the South Dakota National Guard for six years. He was also a 50 year member of the Sinai Fire and Rescue Department where he received fire, rescue, and medical training.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, reading westerns, square dancing, riding horses, as well as attending horse shows and antique tractor shows. He especially enjoyed two trips to Alaska.

In 1958 Duane married Loretta Vander Wal. Together they raised three children, Linda, Darrel, and Donna. Duane spent his life farming and ranching in the Sinai/Volga area, first with his father and then with his son.

Those who are honored to have loved him and shared his life include Loretta, his wife of 67 years; three children, Linda Hightower (George), Darrel Kleinjan (Tracy) and Donna Bolstad (Mike) and seven grandchildren, Jordan Roehl (Allison Shockley), Braden Roehl, Eric Taylor (Rachael), Jarrod Taylor (Kindra), Kacie Intermill (Nick), Davis Bolstad (Sophie), and Taryn Bultje (Alec);

In addition, he was blessed with ten great-grandchildren Sadie, Charlie, Grayson, Morgan, Aiden, Keegan, Corey, D'Artagnan, Indiana, and Jarrod Jr. and three great-great-grandchildren, Jethro, Isaiah and Ronald along with many relatives and friends. Duane loved babies and they were delighted by his quacking-duck-sounds, tickles, 'pony rides' and general rough-housing.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Duane's memory to the Trinity Cemetery Fund or a local organization of your choice.