A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Duane C. Gaudian, 93, of Lake Park passed away on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Accura Healthcare in Milford.
His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Lake Park, with Rev. Adam Jacobsen, officiating.
To view Duane’s service via livestream, please visit: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=7a061bc7-50b4-4f4b-85de-bd83b188dac1
Burial will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, at Prairie View Cemetery in Paullina. Visitation with family present will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time Monday, Dec. 2, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Lake Park. Arrangements are under the care of Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.
Duane Charles Gaudian, the son of Carl F. and Olga (Tesch) Gaudian, was born Dec. 14, 1930, in Paullina. He graduated from Paullina High School in 1948. He left for the FBI in January 1949, and worked for J. Edgar Hoover. He was drafted into the Army in 1952, and served during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954.
On June 7, 1953, he was united in marriage to Esther Peters. They moved to Aurelia in 1954. They were blessed with seven children: Mark (Karen) Gaudian, Janet (Scott) Geissinger, Joyce Gaudian, Kent (Ruth) Gaudian, David (Vanda) Gaudian and Joel and Kristin Gaudian.
He worked for 38 years at First Trust Savings Bank, and also sold insurance and real estate. They moved to Spirit Lake in 1992 and Lake Park in 2005.
Duane was very active in his community. He was a very generous person. He played semi-pro baseball in his younger years. He loved sports — especially the St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeyes.
Duane loved his family deeply and had a very strong faith.
Left to cherish his memory are his seven children, 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one due in December; sister Carol Thompson; sister-in-law Joann Gaudian; and numerous relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther, on April 6, 2024; his parents; brother Clouse Gaudian; sister Vi (Duane) Reimers; and brother-in-law Ivan Thompson.
