Duane “Dick” Wuollet, passed away on July 2, 2023 at home surrounded by his family. Duane Richard Wuollet, affectionately known as “gramps” was born at home in Cokato MN to Harry and Estella (Lofback) Wuollet on January 8th, 1935, the eleventh of sixteen children. Dick’s mother died when he was seven years old and his older sisters helped their dad, Harry, raise the family on a farm NW of Cokato.
Dick walked to Ojanpera country school with his siblings and was a student there through the eighth grade. In January 1954 at the age of nineteen Dick joined the United States Marine Corps. He served honorably as a U.S. Marine for two years being promoted to the rank of Meritorious Corporal and was sent overseas for duty in Japan and Korea.
Following his discharge from the service Dick met and later married Mary Ann Barber on September 8th, 1956. The couple began their life together in Mpls. while Dick attended Dunwoody Institute for sheet metal trade training under the GI bill. Dick and Mary Ann were blessed with four children and the family enjoyed camping trips and staying at their cabin on Little Swan Lake in Dassel, MN.
In 1970 the family moved to a farm NW of Cokato next to the home farm where Dick had grown up. Dick retired as a union sheet metal laborer in 1997 and continued farming their land into his eighties. He was a gifted self-taught mechanic who was in his element repairing tractors and farm equipment. In his retirement years Dick enjoyed farming, golfing, traveling with Mary Ann, reading and playing games. Like a true Finlander he liked his coffee and sauna hot. A lifelong member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church Dick’s faith was grounded in the grace promises of his Lord and Savior Jesus. Dick and Mary Ann were married nearly 67 years when Mary Ann passed away on March 22, 2023.
Dick is survived by his daughters Debra (Peter) Halonen, Cheryl (Paul) Niemela, and his son Mark; 19 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; 1 great great-granddaughter; sisters Marcella Hallberg and Mildred Mattila; sisters in law Dorothy Wuollet and Eva Wuollet; brothers in law Everett (Cathy) Barber and Gary (Nancy) Barber; many nieces, nephews, friends and brothers and sisters in faith.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann; daughter Denise Narhi; parents Harry and Estella; sisters Marian, Myrtle, Elaine and Janet; brothers Melvin, Harry Jr., Stanley, Donald and 5 infant siblings.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 7, 2023 from 5-8 pm and continue 1 hour prior to services on Saturday, with a funeral service to be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church (74537 240th St, Dassel, MN 55325) Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home of Cokato, www.swansonpeterson.com 320-286-2534
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