Duane Wellington Hertel passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family in Leawood, Kansas on April 5, 2023, after a 9 year struggle with Alzheimer’s. Duane was born on June 1,1934 in Olivia, Minnesota to parents Wellington and Lillian Hertel.
During Duane’s high school years he worked at his fathers Packard Dealership, Hertel Motors, and has always had a love for cars. Duane attended South Dakota School of Mines and graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in January 1957. Duane met his wife of 67 years, Marlene, in October 1955 and they were married August 24, 1956 in Butte, NE. They lived in Rapid City for a short time and then relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a year where both he and Marlene worked for Allis Chalmers. In 1958 Duane and Marlene moved to Norwood, OH where Duane took a permanent position as an Application Engineer. On September 28, 1977 Duane started Control and Drive Systems which initially began in Merriam, KS and would later quadruple in size and move to Olathe, KS. In 1986 Packaging Systems made it’s debut. Packaging Systems was equally as successful as Control & Drive Systems.
Duane had a love for the outdoors and the family spent most weekends at their home on the Lake of the Ozarks. Duane would spend hours driving the boat for anyone who asked. Duane taught Drew to water ski by the age of 3 and Dawn by the age of 5. When the grandchildren came along, Duane spent many of hours driving the boat for them as well. Duane had a love for snow skiing as well and the family took vacations over the years to ski together and he was able to pass this love on to the grandchildren.
Duane and Marlene have attended College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, KS for 51 years. He was an Ambassador for many years Duane has always been a silent giver of time and money to the community and to college church and never has wanted recognition for anything that he has done over the years.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marlene; children Drew Hertel of Leawood, KS, Devin and Dawn (Hertel) Johnson of Independence, MO; grandchildren Travis and Jennifer Miller and great grandson Judson of Broken Arrow, OK; Derric and Colleen Miller of Surprise, AZ; Robert and Lizzy Whittington and great grandson Barrett of Clyde, TX; a sister and brother-in-law Stan and Marilyn (Hertel) George in Reedley, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimers Association. www.alz.org/kansascity
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McGilley-Frye.com for the Hertel family.
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