Duane Milton Verworn 1937 ~ 2016

SEELEY LAKE - Duane Milton Verworn, 78, passed away in the late evening hours July 11 in Kalispell, Mont. 

He was born in Zero, Mont. in a boxcar, July 29, 1937 delivered by his father Henry to his mother Clara Heinle. He was the fourth of eight children.

 He grew up and worked around the Missoula/Seeley Lake area. He married his first wife Beverly in 1957, to which his first four children, Robin (Edward), Gina (Dave), Mark and Roxanne (Randy) were born. 

They were divorced and he married his second wife, Terry, in 1971. Son Brodie (Amy) was born, as well as being a stepfather to Martha (Ty), Kenny and Cerese. 

They were divorced and he married a final time to Charlene in 1982, to which a daughter Nikki (Pete) was born and he became a stepfather to Cliff and Dusty (Gene).  

He is survived by his children, as well as 24 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, siblings Terry Lee, Mark, Judy and Roger, as well as multiple extended family members. 

He was preceded in death by both parents, siblings Ralph, June and Gordon, as well as his beloved wife Charlene. 

He was asked once what he'd like to be remembered for, he replied, "As someone who dearly loved children."  Dad's laughter and the joy in his eyes when he saw his grandkids or reminisced about his kids when they were young was a testament to this.

 Dad loved the outdoors!  When he was younger he fished, hunted and explored like no other.  He was also a teller of tall tales. Each year when he retold those stories, the fish got longer, the racks got bigger and the mountains grew taller!  Alas, one of the best stories about him (not told by him) was when he won the country music showdown in Missoula with a friend using borrowed instruments in the early 1950's. 

Another one of his talents was as a heavy equipment operator.   There was no machine too big or job too technical that he couldn't accomplish. 

He and Charlene also owned and ran bars in restaurants in Seeley Lake, Somers and Kalispell. 

As the years rolled on, dementia slowly began to take its toll on him and those around him.  It began to rob him of all the memories he had created and his family of the man they all loved so much.  Eventually, dad moved into the Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork, Mont., where he was a favorite there amongst his caregivers in the memory ward. A special thanks to Jamie, who truly had a soft spot in her heart for him. 

 Our family would also like to thank the staff at KRMC and the Health Center Hospice for being caring, loving and compassionate to him and his family during his final days.  From the custodians, medical assistants, nurses to the doctors, they made his passing as smooth as possible.

We will be gathering in a celebration of life, a year from now on July 29, 2017 at 2 p.m., on what would have been his 80th birthday, at the home of Brodie and Amy.  Please bring a favorite memory of our father to share with everyone.  We will then be placing his ashes at various locations around Montana of spots he loved to frequent.  Call 406-546-1232 with any questions.

Donations can be sent in his memory to:  www.alz.org  in hope of finding a cure to the horrible disease of Alzheimer's and Dementia that devastates so many families.