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Tommorow I will attend Duane's Funeral in Becker Minnesota and I just want to make this a cheerful tribute to a Fellow Letterhead that gave his ALL for Letterheads......this picture was sent to me, by Duane after the Meet here in Mazeppa in July. Just look at him! You can tell he's so Proud of the Gold Leaf Job he just headed up on the Mazeppa 1936 Dodge! When I asked the Fire Department about re-painting and lettering this truck in 1999, the first person I thought of was Duane....He was so happy to be the leader of this project! I'm glad I got to let him live one of his dreams! Of course we did not know that Duane was sick at the Meet, I do not think Duane even knew.....he looked a bit slimmer and was coughing alot, but we all do...
Anyway....I am happy he did not have to suffer too long...knowing Duane, he would not want this to be a downer and to be fun. Ask anyone that was in on the good times at the Mid-Coast gatherings!
I am one lucky guy to have known Duane...
I go tommorow to his services with a smile and quill for his pocket....
[ October 14, 2005, 07:03 PM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
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We wish we could make the trip to say our last goodbyes tomorrow. I know Duane will be there in spirit in meets to come, as he added a piece to all of our lives and will not be forgotten. It was a pleasure to know him & he will be missed.
-------------------- Karlos Reeder Reeder Originals 115 norfolk ave 402-379-0611
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You know that Duane was a volunteer fireman for over twenty years and that photo is a tribute for such a wonderful man.
Duane and I had many conversations about being a fireman. I have been on the volunteer fire dept. here in Aledo for 13 years. In fact we traded fire dept. patches and I will always treasure the one from the Becker Fire Dept.
I know that his buddies on the fire dept. took care of him and he will be truly missed. He did make a difference and I'm proud to have known him as a friend.
-------------------- Michael Clark Clark Signs 138 W. Main St. Aledo, IL 61231 clarksigns1@yahoo.com www.clarksigns.net Posts: 241 | From: Aledo, IL | Registered: Sep 2001
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I had the privilege of meeting Duane at a Midcoast gathering in 1999. We had some great times over the past six years at the Midcoast meets. He was a true Letterhead to the core and he will be greatly misssed.
-------------------- Robert Estes Brushstroke Signs 1500 South 3rd St. Paducah, KY
"Anyone can be average, but with practice and hard work you give yourself a chance to be GREAT!" Posts: 11 | From: Paducah, Kentucky | Registered: Aug 2001
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I think we passed each other and said hello, but there were so many people at your meet this July can't say for sure. He sounded like a great guy. Sorry to hear of his demise. May he rest in peace.
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Mike, I am so sorry about your loss of Duane. Words can't express. He is peace now and living with us now through spirit. Even though I didn't know him personally, through his artwork and you, you've shared him, and my deep thanks for that. For the friendship all of you in MN gave to Duane, especially during his suffering and that it didn't last so long. sincerely, Deb
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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We too got to know Duane through the Mid-Coast meets...He was a living example of a letterhead and as a person should be...He never had a ill word to say about anybody, always happy and upbeat, quite and sincere...and always willing to share...If you were short something or forgot something at a meet Duane would go out to his general store(Truck)and bring it in...we use to have lots of laughs about that...Good bye Duane we will miss you friend....Thanks Mike for the post...Pat and Ruth
-------------------- Pat Welter Masterhand Signs and Designs Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada Posts: 1304 | From: Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada | Registered: May 1999
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the funeral was really a quality send off to a great man.....his Daugther Amy and son Aaron..are really super people.....the following Letterheads were there.....Mike "Griz' Moore, Tim Peterson, Carole Bersen, Dick Borher, Matthew Rolli, Joey (works with Dave Correll), my self and wife Ayleen....the entire fire dept. from Becker was there lookin sharp and the BagPipes were a great way to honor a fallen comrade...here is the way Duane wanted to go....here he is.....I added the brush on top.......so long friend!
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WOW! Mike! This is not the news I expected to see today. How sad. I did know he was in a bad way after the Mazzeppa meet but didnt know until this post that he had died.
I got to sling paint with Duane @ Mazeppa, he jumped right in and helped me out painting the project site numbers, also got to chat with him a little.
It is always sad to hear news like this, at least now Pat King has someone else up on the scaffold with him.
My condolances to his family and friends.
Rod
-------------------- Rod from, EAST COAST AIRBRUSHING "Airbrush Art & Graphics" Nambour; Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Australia E.mail: rod@rodticklesigns.com Web: www.rodticklesigns.com Posts: 635 | From: Nambour, Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Registered: Dec 1998
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I'm Sorry we missed Duane's service on Saturday. We've been in Brazil the past 2 weeks and I only today (Mon) opened Mike's email from Friday. Duane was a great Letterhead. We are all so lucky that he was involved in the Midcoast meets. Hopefully more will learn and live his legacy. Blessings and courage to all his family and friends who will miss him. Thank you to Carole Bersin for the updates, and Mike Meyer for the photos.
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Thanks for being there for Duane, Mike and you other letterheads. I sat across from him for breakfast in Mazeppa, and he seemed like an easy going, easy to get to know man. This is a shock -- the planet needs more good folks like Duane.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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I don't know if you realize it from Mikes discription of Duanes funeral but he is in that One Shot can. His Son in law had asked him what kind of urn he wanted to have his ashes placed in. Duane made his way to his paint cabinet and came back with a qt. of black. The can was buried today beside his parents, the rest of his ashes are going to be scattered around his shop and land he owned in Becker. I have many fond memories of Duane, at the funeral everyone but the Letterheads called him Dewy. Duane and I drove to many a Letterheads meet togather, shared hotel rooms and watched old westerns in the room on cable late at nite after the meets were closed down. He followed me all the way home from South Dakota, when I had truck problems at Tim Peterson's. He was always willing to help. Being a fireman they played the pipes, and it set shivers down my spine. Going to his funeral has made me reflect on my life. I have been working 7 days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day, I was going to work all day Sunday when I got back from the service, but theres more to life then work isn't there. I spent Sunday with the kids on the trampoline and running around the yard, work can wait. You never know when your time is up. Duane will be missed. Carole Bersin and a few of us talked about getting Duane's kit and his pinstripers race track to the sign museum, I think that would be a great way for him to be remembered.
-------------------- Silver Creek Signworks Dick Bohrer Two Harbors, MN Posts: 236 | From: Two Harbors, MN USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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What a fitting tribute indeed. I didn't realize what the One-Shot can was all about until Dick made mention of it.
I have 2 or 3 photos of the fire truck and I believe Duane was in one of the photos if you might be looking for some more "in-progress" photos Mike. They are on a CD at home, I'll bring it in and double check.
Rest in Peace Dewey.
-------------------- Kurt Gaber Chippewa Falls, WI Thank You Letterheads for being a part of both Brush Bashes in '02 & '06!
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"I'd outline that with a little Duane Mickelson One Shot" Burn me a copy Kurt..I'll send it to AMAL for Jeff Lang to put in the Muster story.
Thanks Dick for the clarification....
Duane made a Killer Pinstriping race track that we used at some early Minnesota Letterhead Meets in the early 90's..and World of Wheels they used it......anyway, I think some of us were talking about taking it to the International meet in Cinncinatti this June 2006, racing on it, then donate it to the Museum.
There will be a special tribute to Duane at the "Garage daze" meet in Nahbraska in November as well.
-------------------- Mike Meyer Sign Painter 189 1st Ave n P.O. Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956
We are not selling, we are staying here in Mazeppa....we cannot re-create what we have here....not in another lifetime! SO Here we are!!!!!!!
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Wow!!! That's all I can say. I've just read your heart felt expressions of sympathy and compassion. All I can say is "Thank you".
He often talked fondly of the meets where he met many of you. We would laugh at bit about how it takes a different kind of person to be willing to get in the car, drive 4-6 hours pay 75-150 bucks... just for the privilege to work like a dog 20+ hours in one weekend!
For him it was never work though... always a joy. The joy in meeting new people, sharing ideas, learning new "tricks", or just tellin' stories and having a good laugh. As Pat said, he was always upbeat and sincere. Those of us that had the misfortune of driving with him, can remember how slooooow he would drive. (Don't think he made it much past fifty truth be told.) As much as I wanted to reach my leg over and mash on the gas, it was always a nice reminder for me... slow down a bit. Take the time. Help someone out. Take a day off, play with the kids on the trampoline. That was nice Dick, and glad you took the time, the kids will be too. We are all a little better for having taken the time with one another. I'm a better man today because of the time Dewey took with me. Frankly, the vast wealth he share with me is not measured in dollars and cents... it was measured in hours and minutes.
I know Dewey (Duane to most of you) would be proud to have that track raced on before it gets donated to the museum. Again, thank you all for your kind words, I can see why he called you all "friend".
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