Danny “Duke” Paul Duquette, 71, of Gentilly, MN, passed away at his home of natural causes on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
He was born on March 8, 1953, at Crookston, MN, the son of Paul E. and Mertle Emily (Sterger) Duquette. While growing up in Gentilly Duke was baptized and confirmed in St. Peter’s Catholic Church and began his education in the rural Kripple Creek country school near Gentilly. He often said he carried his sisters on his back uphill, both ways, through the deep snow for years so they could get an education. With the start of 7th grade, he was off to Crookston to Central High School. While there, he participated in the wrestling program, enjoying success up to the Regionals but never quite making it to State. He graduated from CHS with the Class of 1971. A little over a month later, he was walking down the aisle of the Cathedral on July 30, 1971, on his way to marrying his sweetheart, Josita Marie Vickery. After living in Crookston for a few years, the young couple moved to a home they had built for themselves in Gentilly. Through the years, their family would be blessed by the births of Jacques, Autumn, Sara, and Serena.
For several years, Duke worked for LePier Goodyear in Crookston as a tire man. He then began a long career with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) in their Crookston locale as a tire man, also applying decals on all the State Patrol cars. Eventually, he moved over to the paint part of the operation, going out and painting stripes on the roads in the summer and plowing snow in the winter. He loved taking his kids out for drives and swerving over to line up the car with a stretch of highway pointing out to them, “see that stripe, I painted that”! They squealed and he laughed mightily. Every fall for many years Duke and his dad, Roy Scully, would take 3 weeks of vacation to drive beet trucks during the fall harvest helping out a family member. Finally on May 11, 2015, Duke retired as a MnDOT supervisor with no regrets and the satisfaction of knowing he left ‘a job well done’.
Duke loved being a husband, father, and grandfather and his family always knew how much he loved each and every one of them. He enjoyed wood working, tinkering in his garage, and having coffee with friends, especially Friday world-solving meetings with friends at Gentilly’s Snow Sled Inn and in Crookston at the Ampride Station. Many a memory was made during the family’s famous ‘Fireworks Wars”, no serious injuries, just a few singes. The front yard of their home was worn down pretty good from the countless football and basketball games fiercely played. Duke loved the 7 dogs he had over the years because they were family too. He was a HUGE Minnesota Vikings fan and loved watching games with his daughter, Autumn. He said more than once he was never going to die until they won the Super Bowl. He will now have to be content to cheer them on from Heaven! Duke loved watching basketball and hockey and in past years was a boxing fan as well. He shared a “secret” handshake with each of his grandkids, and played “Pop a Top Again” by Alan Jackson for his family probably only several thousand times! While getting acquainted with his cell phone a few years ago he learned a few new things and became the self-proclaimed King of Emoji’s. Sadly, Josita passed away on October 31, 2007.
Duke considered himself to be twice-blessed as he married Karin Johnson in Pigeon Forge, TN on June 26, 2008. While he continued to live in Gentilly Karin remained in Tennessee for 3 more years as she finished raising her daughter and 2 sons. She then made the trek to Minnesota and even began to put up with the cold winters. Duke and Karin enjoyed traveling throughout the States, visiting family and friends, and enjoying all the mountain vistas they saw on their trips. His one regret was that he never had the chance to get to Hawaii.
Duke was a lifelong member of St. St. Peter’s Catholic Church and remained loyal to his faith throughout his life. Treasured be his memory by all who shared in his life.
Duke is survived by his beloved wife, Karin; 4 special kids and their spouses: Jacques and Dorothy Duquette of Bovey, MN, Autumn and Jack Hanson of Crookston, MN, Sara and Steve Dykstra of Red Lake Falls, MN, and Serena Duquette (Joe Greiner) of Gentilly; and from Karin’s family: Justin McGonigal and Cory Johnson, both of Seattle, WA, and Stacie Johnson of Crookston; 12 wonderful grandchildren: Tyler Dykstra (Sam Oary), Francesca Duquette, Lillith Duquette, Seth Dykstra, Skylar Weiland (Joshua Rand), James Duquette, Wyatt (Maisie) Weiland, Thomas Hanson, Quinton Fredericks, Beau Fredericks, Christian Valdes, and Layla Magdaleno; 2 sisters and brothers-in-law, Karen and David Hagen of Kannapolis, NC and Korene and Steve Maynard of Statesville, NC; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
In addition to Josita, his wife of 36 years, Duke was preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Mertle and Roy Scully; his father and step-mother, Paul and Violet Duquette; sister, Kathy (Scully) Swenson; brothers, Dale and Dwane Scully; and several aunts and uncles.
The Celebration of Danny’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 1, 2024, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Gentilly with Msgr. David Baumgartner, presiding. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. There will also be a visitation at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home on Sunday, June 30th, from 5-7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service that will include the sharing of memories. Burial will follow the Mass in St. Peter’s Cemetery. The services will all be livestreamed by going to Danny’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. Messages of condolence may be given to the family by going to the funeral home website as well.
