Kenneth Duitsman

Kenneth Duitsman was born on January 7, 1933, in Fonda, Iowa to Hillis and Dorothy (Holdorf) Duitsman. He grew up as one of fourteen children and attended school in Ayrshire, Iowa.
After completing school, Kenny proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1952 to 1955, spending much of his service stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Upon returning home, he met Marlene Huntley. The couple married on June 22, 1956, and were together for sixty years until Marlene's passing in 2017.
Kenny was employed by Butterfield Foods as an egg truck driver, stopping by local farms to transport eggs into Estherville. Along the way, he would often play a quick game of basketball or golf chipping with farmers or their children, usually with a small wager on the line, always impressing everyone with his athletic skills. Later, Kenny worked for the City of Estherville, where he could frequently be found maintaining city infrastructure or barreling down dark streets behind the wheel of a snowplow on wintry evenings and early mornings. He took particular joy in pushing snow in front of the shoveled driveways of certain unhappy residents.
Kenny was a talented athlete in every sport he undertook. He loved his days on the softball diamond playing for the Hamm's Beer team, where he celebrated many home runs and wins. His other favorite summer sport was golf, where he won many trophies over the years, and his competitive spirit carried on in winter when he played basketball or bowled. When he wasn't participating in athletics, he kept busy fishing and hunting. Kenny shared these beloved hobbies with his sons, Keith and Kurt, teaching them to hunt, fish, and golf. These learning experiences brought a lifetime of memories, experiences, and friendships for the boys. Such traditions continue to be passed down to future generations of Duitsmans, for which they are very grateful.
In his retirement, Kenny ran a small lawn mowing business and enjoyed having more time to fish. He would regularly show off his latest catch and pause for photo shoots with these trophies. His gardens yielded ample produce, and he filled his extra time by watching sports and Westerns on TV.
After Marlene's passing in 2017, Kenny slowly made his way to his final home at The Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, passing away there on October 14, 2025, at the age of 92. His family is deeply grateful for the endless hours of care and concern provided by the staff there. The team at Good Sam is truly a treasure.
Kenny leaves behind two sons, Keith (Bernadette) of Estherville and Kurt (Kari) of North Tustin, California. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Ted (Lorraine) Duitsman, Danielle (Adam) Heath, Dan (Carri) Duitsman, and Molly (Kyle) Struve. Additionally, Kenny was a proud great-grandfather to ten kids: Parker, Nolan, Bennett, Warren, Evelyn, Jackson, John, Josie, Wyatt, and Noelle. His surviving siblings include sisters Helen Rose and Jeannie Gettler, and brother Bill Duitsman. His surviving sisters-in-law are Karen Huntley, Donna Roberts, Doreen Scribner, and Mary Duitsman. His surviving brothers-in-law are Gary Huntley, Kenny Gettler, and Larry Janssen.
Kenny was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife Marlene, his parents, and his in-laws Roy and Hazel Huntley.
Kenny's legacy lives on through the love and memories shared by his family.