Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center
http://www.swartzmortuary.com
Musician and educator Duane Clarence Wallin of Greenwood, IN died May 1, 2023 at Otterbein Franklin Seniorlife Community in Franklin, IN, he was 83. Duane was best known locally at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, IN where he led the hand bell choir for nearly 15 years. Prior to being coaxed out of retirement for the music ministry at Resurrection, Duane was a high school choral director and church choir director in suburbs of St. Paul, MN.
Duane was born in Steele, ND on May 17, 1939, to Clarence Wallin and Elsie (Borchert) Wallin. Duane graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a degree in music education in 1961. He started his first job as a high school music teacher in Long Prairie, MN and later became the new choir director at the local Lutheran church. It was in Long Prairie where he met the love of his life, Connie Bergh, who was a sophomore at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. They were married June 20, 1964, enjoyed more than 58 years of marriage, and were inseparable. Connie and Duane put down roots in Cottage Grove, MN. For more than 25 years, Duane taught music and directed choirs (sharing the joy of music with thousands of students). Duane was also the church choir director at Zion Lutheran Church (Cottage Grove, MN) until 1989 and the Director of Music/choir director at King of Kings Lutheran Church (Woodbury, MN) from 1989-2000. After retirement from Tartan High School, Duane and Connie relocated to Greenwood, IN to be closer to family.
Duane loved his family and was always the family's biggest cheerleader. He swelled with pride to hear Connie on the organ, his daughters singing, and his grandchildren excelling at music, sports, and life. As a sports fan, he was avidly devoted to the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Golden Gophers. In addition to his musical gifts, he enjoyed sports: playing, coaching and refereeing. He especially liked to play basketball and 19th century baseball with the Indianapolis Blues (where his nickname was "Trouble"). He wore the nickname Trouble as a badge of honor, but he liked the nickname from his grandkids even more: "Bumpa".
Duane loved being close to water. For nearly 15 years, he and Connie would pack up their Chevy Suburban on the last day of school, gather their daughters after school, and drive to their lake cabin on Lake Moses near Alexandria, MN. They spent all their summers swimming, water skiing and hosting "cousins' weeks" before returning to Cottage Grove the weekend before school started again in the fall. After they sold the cabin, Connie and Duane would be annual snowbirds driving to Fort Myers, FL, enjoying the ocean, the weather, the restaurants, and hosting "grandchildren weeks."
Duane is survived by his wife Connie; daughters Sherry (Scott) Andersen of Greenwood, IN and Anne Erickson of Greenwood, IN; grandchildren Cassie Andersen, Greta Andersen, Clara Andersen and Quincy Erickson; sister Carol Ann (Bob) Kolodejchuk; sisters-in-law Amy Koehn and Karen Bergh; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law Allen Bergh and Gordon Koehn.
A celebration of life memorial service will be forthcoming. Memorial contributions may be made to Resurrection Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, IN or at https://rlcindy.org/giving/. Swartz Family Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information at 317-738-0202.
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