Duane Daniel Coffman, 77, of Rochester, Minnesota, formerly of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, at his home.

He was born on March 5, 1941, in Austin to Elizabeth and Henry Coffman. After graduation from Pacelli High School in 1959, he proudly served from 1960-1966 in the United States Marine Corps, stationed in California, Hawaii, and Japan. In 1967, he married Darlene Keenan. He attended Austin Community College and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in accounting from St. Cloud State University. With Irv Nehring and Steve Christopherson, he formed the Coffman, Nehring, & Christopherson CPA firm. Thomas Ferguson later joined the firm that merged in 2004 with Smith, Schaefer and Associates. Duane retired in 2017. 

Duane volunteered his business skills and served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Forest Resource Center from 1994-2002. During his tenure, it was decided to make the Forest Resource Center into a residential environmental learning center. He was instrumental in setting the foundation for the success of what is now Eagle Bluff Learning Center.

While not working or volunteering his time, Duane enjoyed fishing with friends and family, a good paperback book, and he especially enjoyed exploring the country during family road trips. His commitment to family was evident through cross country travels to the Coffman Family reunions and his regular attendance at dance recitals, music concerts and sports events of his children and grandchildren. He was admired for his selfless generosity and rewarded others with his genuine simile and infectious laugh. He was a man of integrity and dedication. Other pursuits included Tae Kwon Do, in which he achieved a black belt at the Park Institute of Tae Kwon Do in Rochester. Duane also became an accomplished woodworker, creating beautifully crafted pieces of furniture and keepsakes for his children and grandchildren.

Duane is survived by Darlene; sons, Paul (Lisa) and Joe (Amy); daughters, Keri Coffman-Thiede (Kurt) and Leah Coffman (Doug Greene); a sister, Lucretia Thompson; brother, Maynard (Dody); and seven grandchildren, Anna, Claire, Grace, Andrew, Sarah, Faith and Logan.   

He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Eugene, Gerald, Paul, Larry, Dwight and Billy Joe; and two sisters, Collette Collins and Camilla Erickson. 

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin with Father James Steffes officiating. There will be a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, at Mayer Funeral Home, where friends may call from 5-7 p.m. and also one hour before the service on Wednesday at the church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216. Memorials are suggested to Mayo Clinic Hospice, Seasons Hospice, or Eagle Bluff Learning Center. Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com.