Duane M.

He was born Nov. 24, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

A graduate of Penn State University in 1962 and member of the DTS Fraternity, he made time every year for the fraternity brothers get together. He graduated with a degree in horticulture and retired from Stouffer Foods as a food buyer after 35 years of dedicated service. During his time with Stouffer's, he worked with suppliers and Stouffer Product Development to create new uses for vegetables. He traveled internationally helping suppliers develop techniques to make their companies more productive, and in turn was able to negotiate beneficial purchasing agreements for Stouffer's.

Aside from his love of family and friends, he loved nature, fishing, gardening, and bird watching. As a world traveler, he visited many famous bird watching areas. He spent most spring days watching warblers at Magee Marsh, where he also spearheaded a project to rid the marsh boardwalk area of invasive garlic mustard plants. He also encouraged the planning of tree planting at Lakeside, where he spent six months of the year.

His kindness was expressed to others and observed by his family in many ways. He enjoyed providing neighbors and friends with produce from his garden. He devoted time to the Brecksville Kiwanis with special involvement in their Easter Baskets of Hope Project. His son, Bob, can share stories of how anywhere in the world they were, someone knew Duane. His son, Duane Jr., can express how good he was with the grandchildren. His wife, Dottie, can tell you that he lived life to the fullest and his kind heart and gentle soul will be fondly remembered.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years Dorothy (nee Harrington); two sons, Duane Jr. (Sheila) of Roseville, Minn., and Robert of Grain Valley, Mo.; four grandchildren, Brianna, Meredith, Haley, and Ryan; and one brother, Ellis Rosenburger.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at the Brecksville United Methodist Church, 65 Public Square, Brecksville, on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. Family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service.

He requested contributions to The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Office, Suite 100, 6375 Riverside Dr., Dublin OH 43017 or Lakeside Association-Tree Fund, 236 Walnut Ave., Lakeside OH 43440.

Arrangements by Nosek-McCreery Funeral Home, 440-526-6050, www.nosek-mccreery.com.