Duane M. Fossler

Duane Merrill Fossler, age 86, of Houston and Galveston, passed away on Wednesday, the 3rd of April 2013, in the loving presence of his wife, Elaine, and family. He was born in Oelwein, Iowa on the 2nd of May 1926, a wonderful son, to Winfred and Merritt Fossler. Duane and his brother Ken, spent their young years growing up in Wonder Lake, IL. In 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and during WWII served in both the North Atlantic and European theater of operations, and the islands of the South Pacific.

In 1951, Duane graduated from Oklahoma University with degrees in Architecture and Engineering. Also in 1951, Duane moved to Houston and became a registered architect, then followed a career growing successfully over 45 years, into a large corporate commercial general contractor, Construction Supervisors Inc., with his business partner and friend, Ron Mostyn, and CSI became his other “family”. In addition to being a successful business man, he was a musician, architect, engineer, airplane pilot, sailor and power boat captain, golfer, skier, world traveler and problem solver. As a musician he played drums in the northern U. S. lake country, and during WWII he shipped out to Europe and then to Guam, playing the drums in a band for the Navy R & R base. As an architect, engineer, and airplane pilot, he became a proficient construction manager. As a sailor and power boat captain, and traveler, he went boating in his yachts in the waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Pacific Northwest, and South Pacific with “mate” and wife, Elaine. He loved being on the water, and for 10 years, Duane, Elaine, and their beloved Mighty Dog, took their Sport Fish yacht to the Bahamas for 3 months every year to explore and anchor in the peaceful waters. Traveling waters all over the world in their yachts was joyous. Having friends at their bay house every week-end, fishing, boating, enjoying the water was a treat. Skiing the mountains of Colorado, Utah and Europe, golfing at many different courses with friends were all part of his full life. As a problem solver, he nurtured a highly successful general contracting company, Construction Supervisors, INC. as well as serving as an arbitrator settling construction contract disputes. As a senior loan committee member of a Houston bank, he administered large construction loans.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents, Winfred Parson Fossler and Merritt L. Fossler. Duane is survived by his wife, Elaine Wolf Guest Fossler; brother, Kenneth Fossler, and wife, Gloria; children, Cheryl Fossler Morelos, and husband, Tony Morelos; Chris Fossler Curran and husband Bruce Curran; and Leslie Fossler; stepson, Corey Guest and wife Marcia; grandchildren, Leah Morelos, Carly and Kimberly Curran, Thalia and Dylan Guest; and numerous nieces and great grandchildren. Duane is also survived by his ex-wife, Patricia Fossler, of Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 20th of April, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA, 23510 (There is a rainbow bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. When your beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place to play all day but; they are missing only one thing, and that is the special person who loved them on earth. Then you cross the rainbow bridge together never again to be separated.); or to the Congregation Temple Israel, Ernest and Dorothea A. Wolf Service Fund, #1 Rabbi Alvin D. Rubin Dr., Creve Coeur, MO, 63141-7670. “Never are we more aware of how much friends mean than at the time of bereavement.”