Duane Elmer Tapani

Duane Elmer Tapani, 78, lifelong Brule, WI resident, died on Monday, September 11, 2017 at Middle River Health and Rehabilitation Center in South Range, WI. He was born on April 3, 1939 in Chicago, IL to Elmer and Viola (Granlund) Tapani.

Duane was a 1958 graduate of Northwestern High School. He went on to serve his country in the United States Navy as an operating engineer and sailed on the USS Turner Joy. He enjoyed visiting that ship in his retirement which is dry-docked in Bremerton, WA.He was an operating engineer for Metropolitan Medical Center in Minneapolis which became Xcel Energy retiring after over forty years of service. Duane married Amy Johnson on July 25, 1964 in Minneapolis, MN and recently celebrated fifty-three years of marriage.

He was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu, WI. Duane was a member of the Masonic Lodge #30 in Anoka, MN for over thirty years and was raised to degree of Master Mason. He enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and RV traveling with his wife Amy extensively throughout the continental United States and Alaska. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. Duane was proud of his Finnish heritage and lived his life with SISU. Duane truly enjoyed his family and was most fond of being called “Grandpa”.

Duane is survived by his wife, Amy Jo; one daughter, Tami Jo (Mark Umholtz) Tapani; one son, Gregory Duane Tapani; two grandchildren, Nate and Luke Tapani Umholtz, all of Minneapolis, MN; three sisters, Beverly (Denny) Raes, Joyce (Geoff) Caron and Cathy (Mark) Wuollet and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at Hope Lutheran Church in Oulu and continue until the 12:00 PM memorial service with Pastor Scott Stai officiating.

The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 E. 5th Street, Superior is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave an online condolence or to sign the guestbook, please visit www.lenroot-maetzold.com.