Duane H. Sobaski, age 70, of Cedar Rapids, IA, formerly of Washington, IA, passed away Sat. January 6, 2024, at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, IA.

 Duane requested cremation and a celebration of his life, with no tears.  The celebration open house will be held Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 4:00pm at Copper Creek Ridge, 1182 Commercial Drive, Riverside, Iowa.  Memorials have been established for the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy or Peyton Hayes Foundation for Cardiac Kids. Beatty-Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting Duane’s family.

Duane was born May 27, 1953, in Washington IA, the son of Harold and Florence (Greiner) Sobaski.  He attended St. James school and graduated from Washington High School in 1971.  Duane was united in marriage to Lucetta Hayes Jirsa on March 31, 1978.

After graduation Duane enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard.  After returning from basic training, he began his 47-year career in the sales of agricultural fertilizer, chemicals, and seeds.  The last 27 years he worked, he was a district sales manager for Monsanto, which was later acquired by Bayer.   Duane was a devoted friend to his co-workers, dealers and growers and always had their best interest at heart.  Anyone who knew Duane knows he never met a stranger.  He could strike up a conversation with anyone.  Duane retired Dec. 2, 2019.  Being a person to never sit around, after retirement he went to work at his sons’ business to keep busy and still be active and around people.

Duane’s interests and hobbies were varied.  His family was his whole world and always at the top of his priority list.  He enjoyed spending time with close friends and family and took great pride in being the best Papa to his five grandchildren.  Duane lived life to the fullest and found enjoyment in hunting, fishing, planting food plots for wildlife, golfing, boating, traveling, and spending time at their vacation homes at Lake of the Ozarks and Guttenberg.  Duane was very excited and proud when he won the 2023 Guttenberg Golf Club men’s championship (handicap event).

Duane is survived by his wife, Lucetta, his two sons and families Zachary (Annie) Henry, Addyson, and Presley of Fairfax, IA and Justin (Michelle) Halle and Alexis of Norway, IA,
sister Kathy Patterson of Cedar Rapids, brother John (Julie) Sobaski of Iowa City, IA and sister Karen Sobaski of Washington, IA.  He is also survived by his brother-in-law Marion (Christine) Hayes of Fairfax, IA.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Richard and Evelyn Hayes, brothers-in-law Tim Patterson and Lloyd Hayes and sister-in-law Regina Bjorndal.