Duane N. "Duke" Kolbeck

Duane N. "Duke" Kolbeck, age 90, peacefully passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025, at his home on land that he was born and raised on and farmed in the Town of Day, Marathon County. His wife and his four sons were at his side.
A family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Interment will be in the Hillside Cemetery Columbarium in Marshfield. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Duane was born on March 4, 1935, in Auburndale to Norbert and Viola (Schill) Kolbeck. He attended school in Hewitt and Purdy Junior High School in Marshfield. He was a veteran of the United States Army, where he finished his high school education, serving from June 25, 1957, until his honorable discharge on June 24, 1959. He married Sharon R. Rhodes on July 21, 1962, at St. John's Catholic Church, Marshfield.
Duane was employed at Felker Brothers Manufacturing in Marshfield from 1966 until his retirement in 1997, after 31 years. He enjoyed playing softball with the Felker Bros team in his early years. Hobbies included horses, playing guitar, outdoor photography, gardening, and feeding all the wild birds on his property. On his property, he also planted thousands of various conifer trees and enjoyed the reforestation for the past 38 years.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon, and their four sons, Michael (Brenda) Kolbeck, Alan Kolbeck, Karl (Sasha) Kolbeck, and Gerald (Vimala) Kolbeck.
Duane is also survived by four grandchildren, Ben (Marissa), Bria (Javante), Violet, and Ruby, and two great-grandchildren, Aven and Auden, and three step great-grandchildren, Xander, Renik, and Aleck.
He is further survived by a sister, Dorene Dieringer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Brian Kolbeck, and a sister, Diane Tewksbury.
In place of flowers, memorials may be designated to St Michael's Parish in Hewitt, WI, or to the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association (www.als.org) in memory of his father, Norbert.