He was born on August 24, 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri to the late Carl Duewel and Minnie Doerflinger.
He was raised in Montrose, Missouri, where he remembered having the first phone in town and driving as an 11-year-old. He graduated from Montrose High School where he recalled being ornery and absent a lot due to not liking school all that much.
Wally was drafted by the army in 1942 for World War II and served in the European theatre. His service included being a scrub nurse and a supervisor, holding the rank of T-5 Corporal.
After the war, he came back to live in Kansas City, Missouri where he soon went on a blind double date. Much to his surprise, the woman he was set up with was the same girl in pigtails he teased at school back in Montrose. They were married three months later in 1946. They relished their marriage for 66 years and Wally really enjoyed being the patriarch of a large family that included six children.
He owned and operated Doctors Equipment Service, a durable medical equipment company, for more than five decades. God abundantly blessed the business and much Kingdom work was funded as a result.
Wally’s passions consisted of reading scripture, gardening, camping, woodworking, repurposing junk into household and gardening tools, consuming Christian programming, but most of all - eating and promoting Chick-Fil-A which he affectionately referred to as “Jesus Chicken”. He also enjoyed being spoiled by his doting wife which included being taken on multiple surprise trips all over the world. He often carried on about the pricelessness of Mary, the consummate Proverbs 31 woman.
When she was asked what your spouse is really like, Mary said, “Wally’s greatest strengths are his strong faith in Jesus Christ, his intercessions for his family, and his love of God’s Word.” She also claimed that most people miss the fact that he really has a tender, touchable heart and spirit.
Evangelism exuded from Wally. It was his lifeblood. From giving out tracts, preaching from his mobile chapel, to having vendors in his office listen to his sales pitch on Jesus before he would listen to their sales pitch on their wares, Wally shared the good news of the gospel virtually every day of his saved life, his eternal reward assured to be truly vast.
Wally reported of himself, “I am more concerned how God sees me than how the eyes of the world see me.” His ways were peculiar, his musings unusual, not at all the status quo. If the saying is true that “It takes all kinds”, then you could thank Wally for playing his role. Nonetheless, he maintained an endearing nature that people really gravitated to.
If anyone ever questioned Wally on how he was feeling, his pat reply was, “I don’t go by feeling, I go by faith.” When asked what would you like your epitaph to read, he exclaimed, “One word…faithful.”
Wally was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Tom Guthrie, his sister, Dorothy Brownsberger, his wife, Mary Duewel and his son, Rick Duewel. He is survived by and eagerly awaits his remaining children and their spouses: Kit Duewel (Rick), Debbie and David Salem, Daniel and Lila Duewel, David and Dru Duewel, Beckie and Rod Shimabukuro, and Nathan and Rena Duewel. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16
A visitation for Richard was held Monday, November 21, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Family Church, 7101 Quivira Road, Shawnee, Kansas 66216. A funeral service followed at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A graveside service occurred Tuesday, November 22, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pleasant Valley District Cemetery, 9501 West 159th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66221.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtmoriah.net for the Duewel family.
