Duane K. Arneson, age 89, went home to the Lord on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Shawano surrounded by his family after a short battle with brain cancer. Duane was born on December 13, 1932 in Crawford County, WI to the late Elmer and Lenice (Torgerson) Arneson. On August 2, 1952, he married the love of his life, Theresa Wilcox, in Manistique, MI. They met at one of his cheese runs when he stopped at her restaurant in Manistique.

Dad's whole life has been in the cheese industry. His mom and dad were cheese makers along with his brother, Erling, a nephew, a niece and a son Rick. Duane managed quite a few plants for Pauly Cheese Company over the years. He also worked as a USDA inspector for Beatrice Cheese and Talibia Cheese in Plymouth, WI. Duane also ran North Hendren Cheese factory near Williard, WI. Now he's the big cheese in the sky. I always told my dad, "No more cheese stories!".

Duane loved his cottage on LuLu Lake and said it was a little bit of heaven. We can all remember the times sitting on the deck and reminiscing about anything and everything!  The family also has many fond memories of pontoon rides down the channel between Shawano Lake and the Wolf River.  Our dad was known to tell stories to his grandchildren and have them rolling with laughter. He did a lot of traveling with mom and the rest of his family. We all had some great times together.

He taught us a lot about his faith and church. In recent years, he watched mass on TV every Sunday when his health wouldn't permit him to go. Dad always watched his health and went to the doctor, so it was odd that he ended up with melanoma.

He is survived by: his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Theresa; five children, Ricky (LeeAnn) Arneson, Patti (Roger) Borchardt, Randy (Lanette) Arneson, Daniel Arneson, and Laurie (Brian) Mroczenski; grandchildren, Michelle (Tim) Raddatz, Melanie (Uriah) Belanger, Brad (Jen) Borchardt, Kevin Borchardt, David Arneson, Nick (Hannah) Arneson, Lucas (Anna) Arneson, Marcus (Desirae) Arneson, Michael (Rachel) Mroczenski, Ashley (Aaron) Morgan and Brittany (Adam) Hanke; a brother, Gary (Vicki) Arneson; a sister, Donna Whitman; and his best friend, Leonard (Sis) Magee. Duane is further survived by 34 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents and brothers and sisters, Erling (Beverly) Arneson and Kelby Arneson; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John Whitman, Ray Wilcox, Connie Wilcox, Claude Wilcox, Pat Wilcox and Vera Wilcox; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marie and Lyle Wilcox; and a grandson, Craig Borchardt.

A funeral mass for Duane will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Cecil. Visitation will be held at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano on Tuesday the 26th from 4:00-7:00 pm and again at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 am until the time of the mass. Entombment will be in Sacred Heart Mausoleum in Shawano.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Evergreen Nursing Home's caring staff along with ThedaCare at Home Hospice for making Dad's last days comfortable.