Duane W. Leitzke

Duane W. Leitzke, 79, longtime Moses Lake resident and former principal at Frontier Junior High School passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Samaritan Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 200 N. Dale Road. Private family committal will be at Guarding Angels Cemetery, 2595 Road L. N.E., Moses Lake. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory.

Duane was born the oldest of six children to Alvin Leitzke and Annie (Smetana) Leitzke on April 4, 1932 in Minot, North Dakota. He graduated from high school, went to college and taught one year at the rural school. He was then called into the army. After basic training he went to Fort Belvoir, VI and completed his Combat Engineer Foreman training. When he returned he went back to Minot State Teacher's College and received his degree in 1959. He and his fiancé, Bernell Lima, came to Moses Lake to teach in 1959. They were married in 1960 and raised 2 children, Jeff & Karen. Duane spent 30 years at Frontier Jr. High School starting as a teacher then Vice Principal and on to Principal. He coached football, basketball, school baseball and Pony League. He enjoyed his 27 years as a volunteer fire fighter, was a member of the American Legion for some 65 years and also a lifetime Elks Club Member.

Duane is survived by his wife, Bernell; son Jeff Leitzke; daughter Karen (Dan) Wiersma; granddaughter, Kelsy (David) Timofeyev; brothers, Everett (Marilyn) Leitzke, Larry (Betty) Leitzke; sisters, Carolyn (Ardien) Tandberg, Pearl (Richard) Sauer and Marilyn Sauer. 

Duane was a friend to many over the years and most will miss the "Happy Birthday" call.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Samaritan Hospital for the compassionate care they provided to Duane and the family.