Duane August Sanger, 91, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2024, at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield, SD.

   A Celebration of Life will be held on June 18, 2024, at 1:30pm at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield with Reverend Keith C. Kraft officiating.  Burial, with military honors, will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.  

   Duane August Sanger was born on June 18, 1932, in Redfield, South Dakota, to August and Lillian (Buchholz) Sanger.   He spent his childhood and youth in the Rockham, South Dakota area and then graduated from Redfield High School in 1950.  He married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Larson, on December 26, 1951, in Redfield prior to his deployment to Korea for the US Army.  They had three children – Dane, Lisa, and Linae.  

   Duane farmed for several years and then moved into Redfield to work at Coast to Coast before starting his career with the US Postal Service.  He served as a rural mail carrier and retired after 33 years of service.  Duane also served the City of Redfield as Mayor for 37 years.  Just a few projects that he worked on to enhance Redfield included the expansion of Community Memorial Hospital and Redfield Library addition.  He was so proud of this community and it was showcased when Redfield was honored as Capital for the Day.  

   Duane was all about service.  He was a member of the Redfield Lions Club holding many positions including the office of District Governor, VFW, American Legion, Municipal League, NECOG, and First Congregational UCC.  He was an active participant in many community events – Relay for Life, Redfield Gun Show, Ringneck Association, etc.  

   Duane is survived by his children: Dane (Debra) Sanger of Redfield, Lisa (Gregg) Albright, and Linae Sanger of Louisville, Colorado; grandchildren: Joshua Sanger of Vermillion, South Dakota and Sarah Sanger of Brookings, South Dakota; 6 nieces and nephews; one sister-in-law, Joyce Sanger of Redfield, and several cousins.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 69 years, Juanita, brother Daelyn, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Bonnie Veal.

   In lieu of flowers, those wanting to provide a memorial are encouraged to donate to their favorite charity.  Undesignated memorials will be given to the Redfield Community Memorial Hospital Foundation (PO Box 420, Redfield, SD, 57469) for the EMS project and to the Redfield Lions Nutrition Mission Program (c/o First Interstate Bank, 106 E 7th Ave., Redfield, SD, 57469).  

   Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).