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Dean Wirth

Wirth

Duane Leo Wirth, 78, of Sheffield died Feb. 25, 2020, on his beloved farm, Ponderosa Wilderness.
A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sheffield, with the Rev. Mark Miller, officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday in Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, with a rosary service recited at 3:30 p.m. Burial will take place at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Sheffield.
He was born Aug. 24, 1941, in Kewanee, the son of Edward Lee and Mabel Marie (Specht) Wirth. Duane graduated from Manlius High School with the class of 1959. He was a lifelong member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He was self-employed as a livestock and grain farmer nearly all of his life. His love of operating heavy equipment led to his entrepreneurship of many other businesses, such as trucking, excavating, and commercial mowing. He established the Ponderosa Wilderness as a hunting, camping and fishing club to share his enthusiasm of the outdoors. Duane was also the Mineral Township road commissioner and Bureau County Speedway Track Manager.
Duane was a member of Midwest Pool League for 30 years. He played cards with his poker-playing buddies for the majority of his life. He excelled at racing stock cars in Sterling, Peoria and East Moline during the 1960s and '70s. He loved to be around groups of people and had many friends.
Duane is survived by five children, LaDonna (Mark) Mazzorana of Hannibal, Mo, Julia Wirth-Oxyer of Davenport, Iowa, Nevin (Adriane Baker) Wirth of Sheffield, Edward Wirth of Sheffield and Andrew (Michelle) Wirth of Buda; 14 grandchildren, Garrett, Cody, Will, Felicia, Zachary, Aliza, Zackary, Mason, Alexandrya, Nicole, Lauren, Taylor, Wyatt and Phoenix; three great-grandchildren, Zoey, Fiona and Embryss; one foster sister, Dorothy "Dottie" Stephenson of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Leroy and Lt. Eugene F. Wirth.
Memorials may be directed to Sheffield Fire and Rescue. Online condolences may be sent to www.grant-johnsonfh.com.