Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Duane F. Alexander died peacefully on January 17, 2018 at Cedar Crest in Janesville at the age of 99. Duane was born on July 22,1918 in New Glarus as the youngest of six children to Davis and Della Alexander. He enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1936. He married Bette Van Etten in 1938. Duane began working for the Wisconsin State Journal, but was later mobilized for one year of active duty training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. While he was there, Bette gave birth to their son in Madison. Just prior to completion of that training the United States entered World War II, so Duane was extended on active duty for the duration and deployed to the Pacific theater. During his service in the Pacific, Duane became a warrant officer, and later a commissioned officer. Following the war he remained on active duty and served in numerous duty locations, to include Battle Creek, Michigan where their daughter was born. Duane retired from the army in 1962 and immediately became the business manager of the Janesville Medical Center. Bette later passed away in 1971. Duane subsequently met and married Lorraine Gray in 1972. He retired from the Janesville Medical Center in 1977 and they moved to Arizona to pursue his passion for golf. They returned to Janesville in 2003 to be near family. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, and both wives Bette and Lorraine. Schneider Funeral Home.
Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Duane F. Alexander died peacefully on January 17, 2018 at Cedar Crest in Janesville at the age of 99. Duane was born on July 22,1918 in New Glarus as the youngest of six children to Davis and Della Alexander. He enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1936. He married Bette Van Etten in 1938. Duane began working for the Wisconsin State Journal, but was later mobilized for one year of active duty training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. While he was there, Bette gave birth to their son in Madison. Just prior to completion of that training the United States entered World War II, so Duane was extended on active duty for the duration and deployed to the Pacific theater. During his service in the Pacific, Duane became a warrant officer, and later a commissioned officer. Following the war he remained on active duty and served in numerous duty locations, to include Battle Creek, Michigan where their daughter was born. Duane retired from the army in 1962 and immediately became the business manager of the Janesville Medical Center. Bette later passed away in 1971. Duane subsequently met and married Lorraine Gray in 1972. He retired from the Janesville Medical Center in 1977 and they moved to Arizona to pursue his passion for golf. They returned to Janesville in 2003 to be near family. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, and both wives Bette and Lorraine. Schneider Funeral Home.
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