Duane “Duke” J. Ludwig

1940-2024

Duane “Duke” J. Ludwig, age 84, of Colby, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at Colonial Health and Rehabilitation of Colby under the tender care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at the New Hope Lutheran Church in Stratford. Family and friends are welcome from 1:00 p.m. until time of service Sunday at the church. Military Honors provided by the Colby VFW Post #2227.

Duane “Duke” Ludwig was born on May 21, 1940, the seventh of what would be twelve children born to Fred and Margaret Ludwig. Duke graduated from Dorchester High School in 1958. On Feb. 7, 1964, Duke married Connie (Kopp) Ludwig and together raised four children, Julie Oestreich, Daniel Ludwig, Gary Ludwig, and Brett Ludwig.

Duke is survived by his wife and children; three daughters-in-law, Lynda, Pam, and Melissa Ludwig; 11 grandchildren, Ross Brill, Richard, Ryssa, and Reanna Oestreich, Jessica, Jazlynn, and Suzanne Ludwig, Josh (Courtney) Ludwig and Rachel (John) Wussow, and Madeleine and Ryan Ludwig; nine great-grandchildren, Adeline and Cash Utke, Clara, Erica, Garrett, Sylvia and Tessa Ludwig, and Paisley and Hattie Wussow. He is further survived by siblings, Joanne Emmerich, Norma Meier, Marlene Hermans, Loretta Kranz, Dale Ludwig, Bob Ludwig, and Sandy Bruesewitz; along with many nephews and nieces and long-time family friends.

Duke was predeceased by his parents, brothers Jerry, Merlin, and Glen Ludwig, sister Germaine Immler, and grandson, Eric Ludwig.

Duke served in the United States Army and Army Reserves, initially stationed at Ft. Hood in Texas and later at Ft. Lewis in Washington. He worked for more than 40 years at Packaging Corporation of America, where he was corrugator foreman at plants in Colby, Wisconsin, St. Louis, Missouri, and Marshalltown, Iowa. He was known both for his hardworking nature and his wisecracking sense of humor.

Duke was an avid outdoorsman. Along with family and friends, he enjoyed more than five decades of annual fishing trips to Nakina, Ontario, beginning in the early 1960s and continuing until 2019. He similarly enjoyed many pheasant hunting trips to South Dakota with his sons, grandsons and friends. He bagged his last buck (an 8 pointer) with his son Dan outside Phillips, Wisconsin in 2020 at the age of 80! He collected and cooked hundreds of gallons of sap into maple syrup with good friend Louie Young.

Duke was also an avid sports fan. He played basketball and baseball in high school and in the Army. He loved to golf and, with his left-handed swing, paired up with longtime friend Dean Loney, to win a majority of the annual Fathers against Sons golf matches in Wisconsin and Iowa against their less-talented sons, Gary and Mike. Duke also loved to compete at bowling and pitching horseshoes. He was a proud Green Bay Packers shareholder and devoted Brewers fan.

The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Colby is entrusted with the arrangements.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.maurinaschilling.com

Paid Obituary 155133