Duane Brand, 82, of Rural Baxter passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames with his loving family by his side. Visitation will be held at the Fredregill Family Funeral Home in Baxter on Monday, December 12, 2011 from 5-8 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at the St. John United Church of Christ in Melbourne. Private family burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marshalltown. Duane B. Brand was born to Benjamin and Irene (Gauch) Brand in Marshalltown, Iowa on August 17, 1929. He attended and graduated from Baxter High School in 1947. Shortly after graduating he married the love of his life, Jean Damman on September 3, 1948. They settled on the family farm and later began farming. Of this union three children were born. Duane was a very active and hard worker all of his life working multiple jobs to support his family. He worked at Fisher Controls for 27 years, and was also a very talented carpenter. He retired in 1992 and together with Jean they traveled visiting all 50 states. Duane's hobbies included: spending time with his family, reading, cheering for the Hawkeyes, watching TV and traveling. Those left to cherish Duane's loving memories is his wife of 63 years, Jean; children, Cathy Rash, Tim (Sonja) Brand and Shelly (Charles) Koons; grandchildren, Justin (Emily) Rash, Jason Brand, Jami (Vince) Param, Alex Koons, Evan Koons, Ashley Koons; great-grandchildren, Caden and Maddox Rash. Others left are sister-in-law Ruth Frohwein and her husband Raymond, brother-in-law LeRoy Damman, sister-in-law Marilyn Damman, and several nieces and nephews. Duane was preceded in death by his parents; sister Gerry, brother-in-law Walt Meier; brother Richard Brand; nephew James Meier. Memorial contributions will be directed to the Baxter Community School Library or the St. John United Church of Christ in Melbourne.