February 21, 1937 – November 25, 2025
Duane Harold Ortmayer, 88, of Charles City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at home surrounded by his family.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home with Pastor Russ Leeper from Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be at Sunnyside Memory Gardens immediately following the service. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will end prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Croix Hospice, 302 N. Grand Ave, Suite 5, Charles City, IA 50616.
Duane was born in Charles City, Iowa, on February 21, 1937, to Glenn and Lily (Froland) Ortmayer. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1955. After graduating from high school, he proudly served in the United States Marines, Battery D, 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion. He was united in marriage to Colleen Brunner on November 1, 1969, at St John’s Lutheran Church in Charles City. They made their home in Charles City with four children: Rodney and Renee Brunner, Douglas and Denise Ortmayer.
After completing his military service, he began working for Allied Construction in Charles City. In 1982, he opened his own concrete business, Duane Ortmayer Construction. He operated this business for over fifty years.
Duane enjoyed many hobbies in life, including collecting antiques and traveling. He was known for his green thumb, with the abundance of flowers showcased in their yard every summer. Other favorite pastimes were spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Duane had a love of music and dancing. He and Colleen were members of the Charles City Twisters for many years. Duane and Colleen were known for their annual 4th of July yard parties. They enjoyed entertaining and being among family and friends while sharing stories and laughing alongside them. Duane had a great sense of friendship, never meeting anyone that he would call a stranger. His kindness and generosity were shared with all who knew him.
Duane is preceded in death by his wife, Colleen (Brunner) Ortmayer; his parents, Glenn and Lily (Froland) Ortmayer; his brother, William Ortmayer; and his daughter-in-law, Anne (Wegener) Brunner.
He is survived by his children: Rodney Brunner of Longmont, Colorado, Renee (Quinn) Patterson of Sigourney, Iowa, Douglas (Sandra) Ortmayer of Charles City, Iowa, and Denise (Michael) Strange of Greenfield, Indiana. Grandchildren – Chris Smolik, Adrienne (Raul) Toledo, Robin (Pin) Fogg, Roxanne (John) Townsend, Dylan Patterson, Emily (Ryan) Weber, Hunter (Katherine) Ortmayer, Noah Strange, and Nicklaus Strange. Great-grandchildren include Oliver Toledo, Olivia Townsend, Sophia Patterson, Riley, Ella, Karlie, Maycie Weber, and Reed Ortmayer.
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