Duane “Dewey” Noel, 90, passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of June 1, 2015, at his home in Austin, Minnesota.

Dewey was born on April 27, 1925, in Faribault, Minnesota, and graduated from Morristown High School in 1943. He served during WWII in the US Navy as a pharmacy mate. He was stationed at a hospital in England where he helped treat the wounded from the D-Day Invasion, and later served in the Pacific Theater where he witnessed the raising of the US flag at Iwo Jima. Upon returning to civilian life, he attended St. Olaf College where he met Jean Schafer whom he married Sept. 11, 1948. He transferred to the University of Minnesota from which he graduated in 1950. He and Jean moved to Austin where they raised their two children Janice and John, and Dewey managed a lumber yard. Dewey was an avid golfer, enjoyed his morning walks, and in the winter was back on the golf course to cross country ski. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church, serving in a variety of roles including trustee and manager of the sanctuary remodeling project. After retiring, he served the community by being an involved member of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), and assisting Jean with delivering Meals on Wheels.

Dewey is survived by his wife Jean; his daughter Janice (Al) Glass of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; son John (Amy) Noel of Decorah, Iowa; grandsons: Andy (Katie) Glass of Maineville, Ohio, Aaron (Annie) Glass of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Ian (Stef) Noel currently both stationed at the US Air Force Base at Bagram, Afghanistan; brother David (Beulah) Noel of North Mankato, Minnesota; sisters-in-law: Lorrine Noel of El Paso, Texas, and Paddy Schafer of Owatonna, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his mother Jennie (Dahle) Noel; sister Jean; brothers: Glen Jr. and Stan; and brother-in-law Larry Schafer.

Visitation will be Wednesday June 3, 2015, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary of Austin, Minnesota, and on Thursday June 4 at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Austin, Minnesota, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Graveside service at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Owatonna, Minnesota, will be held later in the afternoon of June 4. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church, the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, or to the donor’s choice.