Duane “Pee Wee” Conner, age 86, of rural Glidden, IA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 11, 2024 surrounded by his family at Accura Healthcare in Carroll, IA, right at chore time or happy hour depending on the day.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church in Glidden with Rev. Anna Small officiating. Music will be by Marlys Conner and Judy Reever. Casket bearers will be Weston Conner, Stuart Conner, Oliver Conner, Micaiah Conner, Eli Conner, and Tom Birkett. Burial will be in the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery near Glidden.
Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden from 5 – 7 P.M. on Tuesday where there will be a Masonic Memorial Service held at 7 P.M. The casket will be moved to the church at 9:30 A.M. on Wednesday where visitation will resume until 10:15 A.M. prior to the service.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Duane was affectionately known to family and friends as Pee Wee. He was born on January 24, 1938 on his family’s farm northwest of Glidden. He was the son of Carney and Margaret (Greene) Conner. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Glidden High School in 1956 where he played on the football team and was active in 4-H and FFA. Following high school he worked with his father on the farm and drove a cream truck. Duane was united in marriage to Joyce Riedesel on June 24, 1961 at the First Presbyterian Church in Glidden by Rev. Duane Heap. The couple made their home on a farm north of Lidderdale until moving to their current farm south of Lidderdale where they raised their four children: Suzy, Matt, Kate, and Jake. Pee Wee was a lifelong farmer and longtime cattle feeder. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Glidden where he served as Elder and Church Treasurer. He helped with the Glidden Ralston “Chain Gang” at football games for over 49 years. Duane was a member of Haggai Masonic Lodge #369 A.F. and A.M. in Glidden for over 60 years. Pee Wee played a mean game of Euchre. He enjoyed annual family summer trips to Okoboji and spending winters with Joyce in Florida for many years. He was an avid Glidden-Ralston Wildcats, Iowa State Cyclones, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Chicago Cubs fan. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
Duane is survived by his wife Joyce of 63 years of rural Glidden; his children and their families: Suzanne (Keith) Danner of Glidden, Matthew (Rhonda) Conner of Glidden, Kate Kennedy of Seattle, WA, Jacob (Jenny) Conner of Clive; grandchildren: Erin Danner, Amber (Tom) Birkett, Weston (Emily) Conner, Stuart (Becca) Conner, Oliver (McKenna) Conner, Sydney Kennedy, Micaiah (Ema) Conner, Eli Conner, Caleb Conner, Isaiah Conner, and Levi Conner; great-grandchildren Adeline, Boone, Flynn, Emma, Lennox, Reagan, Fletcher, and Reece; a sister Shirley Clark, in-laws Bruce (Alice) Riedesel, Zola Beckman and many nieces and nephews.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents Carney and Margaret Conner, in-laws Martin and Olive Riedesel; siblings Betty (Robert) Thurman, Jim (Lorene) Conner, Doyle (Marge) Conner, Floyd (Bev) Conner, and Lillian (Russell) Draves; and in-laws Victor Clark and Junior Beckman.
Pee Wee’s family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Accura Healthcare and Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home for their excellent loving care.
