Duane Leo Wirth

duane wirth

          Duane Leo Wirth, 78, of Sheffield, Illinois died Tuesday, February 25, 2020 on his beloved farm, Ponderosa Wilderness.

            A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2020 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sheffield, Illinois with Father Mark Miller, officiating. Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2020 at Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, Illinois with a Rosary Service being recited at 3:30p.m. Burial will take place in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Sheffield, Illinois.

            He was born August 24, 1941 in Kewanee, Illinois the son of Edward Lee and Mabel Marie (Specht) Wirth. Duane graduated from Manlius High School with the Class of 1959. He was a lifelong member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

            He was self-employed as a livestock and grain farmer nearly all of his life. His love of operating heavy equipment lead to his entrepreneurship of many other businesses, such as trucking, excavating, and commercial mowing. He established the Ponderosa Wilderness as a hunting, camping and fishing club to share his enthusiasm of the outdoors. Duane was also the Mineral Township road commissioner and Bureau County Speedway Track Manager.

            Duane was a member of the Midwest Pool League for 30 years. He played cards with his poker playing buddies for the majority of his life. He excelled at racing stock cars in Sterling, Peoria, and East Moline during the 60s and 70s. He loved to be around groups of people and had many friends.   

            Duane is survived by 5 children: LaDonna (Mark) Mazzorana, of Hannibal, Missouri, Julia Wirth-Oxyer of Davenport, Iowa, Nevin (Adriane Baker) Wirth of Sheffield, Illinois, Edward Wirth of Sheffield, Illinois, and Andrew (Michelle) Wirth of Buda, Illinois; 14 grandchildren: Garrett, Cody, Will, Felicia, Zachary, Aliza, Zackary, Mason, Alexandrya, Nicole, Lauren, Taylor, Wyatt, and Phoenix; 3 great-grandchildren: Zoey, Fiona and Embryss; one foster sister: Dorothy "Dottie" Stephenson of Port St. Lucie, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

            He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 brothers: Leroy and Lt. Eugene F. Wirth.

            Memorials may be directed to the Sheffield Fire and Rescue. Online condolences may be sent to www.grant-johnsonfh.com.

 

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  1. Hard to believe your gone. Ill cherish all the memories we had on your farm I remember being a little kid and riding on the tractor with you all the way up till you even hired me to help cut grass and spread gravel with my dad.Then from there enjoying are time at pool league together. Duane you will be greatly missed.And to the boys and daughters my thoughts and prayers are with you. Your dad was a great man and will be dearly missed keep your heads high cause we all know he would want us to.

  2. What a lovely and touching remembrance video. Showed the love of the outdoors he had and enjoyed sharing with friends and family. If you didn’t know Duane the video explained him! Such a tragic loss. He will forever be in our hearts and not forgotten. Our deepest sympathy to his family.

  3. I was so sad to hear about Duane passing. He was always such a great guy. I’ve known him all of my life.. he will be greatly missed.
    I am sorry that I could not be at the service and be able to see all of the kids and tell them how sorry I am in person. I love all of you and am so very sorry. Please take care. Love, your Cousin Peg

  4. My father, Pete Hodgett, hunted with Duane for years. When there was a fresh snowfall, the phone would ring, and Dad would be into his hunting whites and off to meet the hunters! And many of the good stories involved Duane. Duane was a good friend, a good neighbor and leaves this world a better place for having lived a good life. My sincere condolences to his family. I need a “fox” image to capture the hunting spirit!

  5. To the Wirth Family- Very sorry to here of Duane’s recent passing. I was out of state at the time and only heard the unfortunate news upon my return. I considered him a good neighbor, did some business with him and had several interesting conversations during his time. Pray he is at peace and the his family will always have fond remembrances. Again, sorry for your loss of an interesting father , grandfather, and friend. CB


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