Duane W. Pontenberg, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2024, at the age of 84. Duane was born to DeVere and Agnes Pontenberg on February 24, 1939 in Elma, Iowa, and was the youngest of six children. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in Mason City, Iowa, in 1957. He also attended Mason City Junior College, and graduated from The University of Iowa (Go Hawkeyes!) with a degree in Accounting.
On August 12, 1961, Duane married Lynda Kay Loterbour, who preceded him in death on March 17, 2021. They had three children, Kim (Dennis) Raymond of Parrish, Florida, Ruste (Monica) of Fort Wayne, and Julie (Ron) Peck of Las Vegas, Nevada. Duane was drafted into the United States Army, and served from 1961 to 1963. He worked in accounting and finance for several companies that led them to move to Bloomington, Illinois, Madison, Wisconsin, and Elkhart, Indiana. Duane retired in 2000, and he and Lynda relocated to Fort Wayne in 2007.
Duane loved high school and college sports, especially his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes! He followed Iowa football, men's and women's basketball, and women's softball. He knew all the player's names, as well as their backgrounds, and was quick to share his opinions on how the referees called the games, as well as some critiques of the coaching staff. Duane also loved playing cards, sudoku, keeping up on current events, and golf. However, his greatest love was his family. He regularly kept in contact with many of his nieces and nephews, as well as his great-nieces and nephews. He was the proud grandpa to four grandchildren, Drew (Jesse) Wildman Foster, Mike Foster (Allegra Breedlove), Reed (Katie) Pontenberg, and Lauren Pontenberg. He supported them in all of their passions by attending many of their events. In the past three years, he became a great-grandpa to Rafael Wildman Foster, and Leo and Maisie Pontenberg. He got to enjoy many visits and Facetime conversations with them, and they gave him great joy. They loved "Great Duane."
He is survived by his three children, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his sister, Dorothy DiGregorio, brother DeVere Jr. ("Bud"), sister-in-law, Norma Pontenberg, sister-in-law, Diane Loterbour, and son-in-law, Doug Foster.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, 1502 E. Wallen Rd., on Saturday January 27, 2024 at 11:30 am with visitation one hour prior. Visitation will also take place on Friday January 26, 2024 from 4:00-8:00 pm at FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 6557 N. Clinton St.
In lieu of flowers, Duane would appreciate memorial contributions being made to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, givetoiowa.org