Duane Allen Kroboth, 68, of Sister Lakes, passed away on Dec. 16, 2024, at his home.
A Celebration of Life was held on Jan. 5, 2025, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to the Duane Kroboth 2025 MechTech Scholarship at https://everloved.com/life-of/duane-kroboth/. It will provide college tuition for students in the Mechanical Technology program at Northwest Career and Technical Academy. Those wishing to sign Duane’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Duane was born July 28, 1956 in Benton Harbor. He graduated from Coloma High School in 1974 where he played tennis and was a member of the band. Duane earned an associate’s degree from Ferris State University and then spent 30 years as an Auto Tech. At age 50 he completed an associate’s degree at Southwestern Michigan College and a bachelor’s degree in education at Western Michigan University. Upon graduation, Duane moved to Las Vegas, NV, teaching Auto Tech at Desert Pines High School and Mechanical Technology at Northwest Career & Tech Academy, retiring in 2022 after fourteen years in education.
On June 16, 2011, Duane and Sara married in Las Vegas. Their teaching schedules allowed for months of camping each year, where their summer vacations included fishing, hiking, campfires, star gazing, National Parks and taking in the beauty of the West. “All who wander are not lost” and “Take the road less traveled” were slogans for their 13 years of adventurous vacations. After retirement, Duane and Sara moved to Magician Lake, enjoying boat rides, fishing, sunrises and sunsets. Duane loved watching his Detroit Lions and Red Wings, but above all, he cherished time spent with family and friends.
Duane is survived by his wife Sara; children Nikki Cessna, Zack Cessna, and Laura Kroboth; his mother, Betty Kroboth; siblings Theresa Woodward, Lisa (William)Wallace, Joseph Kroboth, Kurt (Deb) Swanson, Carrie (Luis) Beltran, Rhonda (Scott) Farley and Renee (Carl) Wood; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Fred Kroboth, sister Freda Haskins, infant brother Dean, brother-in-law Mike Woodward, bonus parents Al and Kaye Swanson and fishing buddy Steve Skalla.
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