Rev. Duane A. Jalas, 76, Hartley

A memorial service for Rev. Duane A. Jalas was held Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley. Pastor Chris Nitzel officiated.

Pallbearers were Ben Jalas, Abram Jalas, Jordan Jalas, Matt Schimmer, Dale Amendt and David Amendt. Honorary pallbearers were Mackenzie Jalas, Caleb Jalas, Annika Evans, Penelope Evans and Natalie Evans. Burial was in Waterman Cemetery at Sutherland, with military graveside rites conducted by Sutherland American Legion Post #152. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Duane Alvin Jalas was born in Cherokee on March 14, 1946 to August H. and Evelyn W. (Amendt) Jalas. He was baptized on March 31, 1946 and confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 10, 1960, all at Bethel Lutheran Church in Sutherland. Duane grew up on a farm near Sutherland along with his five brothers and sisters. He received his early education at Sutherland Community School, and graduated from St. John’s Academy in Winfield, Kan. with the Class of 1963.

In November 1966, Duane proudly began serving his country with the United States Army during the Vietnam War, spending almost six months of his tour overseas. He suffered serious injuries during that time, resulting in a one-year stay at the Brook Army Burn Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal and Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Marksman badge (M-14 rifle). Duane was honorably discharged on July 30, 1969, and returned home. Shortly after, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he earned his BA in Agriculture, followed by a Master of Business Administration.

Duane was united in marriage to Rosemary Ann Bruns on Aug. 8, 1970, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, Neb. Two children completed their family: Darin and Rebecca.

After leaving Nebraska, Duane moved to Washta to work for Simonson Fertilizer for a time. He then attended Concordia College at Milwaukee, Wis. for one year, receiving his certificate of Lay Ministry, after which he returned to Sutherland to farm with his brothers.

A Visitation Pastor/Custodian position at Trinity Lutheran Church took Duane and his family to Decatur, Ill., then to Three Lakes, Wis. where he served as a Lay Minister at Grace Lutheran Church. In January of 1999, Duane was ordained in the ministry. For nine years, he served at Trinity Lutheran Church in Prentice, Wis. The family then relocated to Dime Box, Texas where Duane was the pastor of Trinity Lutheran for the next three years. Following his retirement, he and Rosemary settled back in Sutherland and have called it “home” ever since. For the past 11 years, they enjoyed bypassing harsh Iowa winters by escaping to the warm Texas sunshine.

Over the years Duane had been a member of the VFW, American Legion and acted as visiting pastor at Granger Lake, Texas. He continued to serve as a visitation pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley, and never wanted to miss an opportunity to spend time fishing with his granddaughters.

Duane passed from this life on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, at the age of 76 years. Keeping his memory close at heart are his wife of 52 years, Rosemary, of Sutherland; his children: Darin Jalas, of Spencer, Neb., and Rebecca (Rev. Derek) Evans, of Sacramento, Calif.; five grandchildren: Mackenzie Jalas, Caleb Jalas, Annika Evans, Penelope Evans and Natalie Evans; brothers: Merle (Barb) Jalas, of Sutherland, and Leon (Donna) Jalas, of Marshfield, Mo.; one sister, Colleen (Dick) Simm, of Paullina; a sister-in-law, Rita Bruns, of Seward, Neb.; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, August and Evelyn Jalas; brother, Delmar Jalas; sister, Wilma Schimmer; brother-in-law, Gary Bruns; and grandson, Lucas Jalas.