Duane
Duane A. Seward
Duane passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at Bronson Hospital after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born December 19, 1933 in Gaylord, MI the son of Elsie Sniffin and Charles Seward. After graduating from high school he joined the US Navy and served his country from 1956 to 1962. He studied education at Western Michigan University and was a teacher for 30 years in Michigan and Arizona. Duane loved traveling and enjoyed taking the back roads. He was a devoted family man who liked camping with his family and spent many hours hiking in the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico with his best friend Ed. Duane loved his grandchildren and attended many of their activities over the years. On December 16, 1966 in he married Gisela Nitschke, his beloved wife of 48 years, who survives.
Also surviving is his daughter, Sabina (Richard) Boston of Paw Paw; grandchildren, Raymond (Toni) Miller, Heidi Moat and Teddy (Monica) Moat all of Arizona, Andy (Amanda) Seidel of Schoolcraft and Juan Seidel of Kalamazoo, along with 8 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Petra in 2008 and by his sisters Earla Nichols and Barbara Dudley.
Cremation has taken place.
A Memorial Service honoring the life of Duane will be held Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Congregational Church of Otsego.
Contributions in memory of Duane may be made to the
Wounded Warriors Project
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.
WinkelFuneralHome
.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Duane A. Seward
Condolence Messages
Jamie Collins
March 12, 2015 at 6:33 pm
I am a friend of Sabina and Richard. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family as well as prayers for peace during this difficult time.
Reply
Lee and Diane Boysen
March 12, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Gisela, Sabina, Richard, Juan, Andy and families.
Please accept our most sincere sympathies in the loss of Duane. We are thinking of all of you during this most difficult time.
Reply
Christine Myers
March 12, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully his passing will bring you peace knowing he longer suffers.
Reply
Betty (LaFountain) Burkowski
March 13, 2015 at 1:56 am
You were always my favorite uncle. There were many happy times with you, when I would stay with Grandma. I remember when you would practice golf swings in the field behind her house and how excited I would get whenever I found one and brought it back to you. I remember sitting at the dining room table and you letting me help you grade papers. And of course I was close to Petra, better known to me as “Pete”. We shared many, many happy times as well. I love you both.
Reply
Kathleen O'Keefe
March 13, 2015 at 7:18 am
Gisela, Sabina, and family, I am so sorry for your loss.
Reply
John and Diana Elsner, Sarasota, FL
March 13, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Our dear friends Richard and Sabina, we are so sorry for your loss. In our imperfect world, sorrow comes to all, and it comes with bitter agony and biting tears. Perfect relief is never possible, except eased with the passage of time and belief that Christ Jesus brings us all to eternal life and perfect peace in His time to those who believe in Him. The suffering of adversity exalts you, Richard and Sabina. Human tribulation teaches you; it never destroys. The more we all are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance for the next. The more we experience sorrow in the present, the greater will be our joy in the future. May God’s presence, perfect peace, and abundant blessings be with you Richard and Sabina and your family. Your father now rests in perfect peace.
Reply
Jon Barton
March 16, 2015 at 7:25 pm
He will be missed. He was my 5th grade teacher and had quite an impact on my life. I later joined the Navy myself. My heart goes out to his family.
Reply
Tom Fevig
March 22, 2015 at 7:28 am
My condolences to the family. Mr. Seward was one of my favorite teachers. He used to play catcher and umpire during our softball games at recess. About 35 years later when he saw that I mentioned him on our class website, he remembered me and sent me a nice email. I’m sorry he is gone, but I’m certain all who knew him will have many fond memories to cherish.
Reply
Jim Swoboda
April 2, 2015 at 11:51 am
My condolences to the family of Mr. Seward. He was my 5th grade teacher and as so many of our Plainwell teachers did, he left a lasting impact in helping to shape who we all became.
God Bless!
Reply
Brian Walker
April 2, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Prayers for the family. Such sad news. So many fond memories of him as my teacher in grade school. Always throwing the football or playing softball at recess. He was a very kind soul and a great teacher.
Reply
Dennis Duane Nichols
April 2, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Aunt Gisela and family,
I just heard today of my Uncle’s passing. My prayers are with you at this time. Uncle Duane was my favorite extended family member ( along with Aunt Barbara-RIP).
He always encouraged me as a young boy to be all I could be. I enjoyed his friendly demeanor and gentle humor. My mother must have loved her brother deeply too to give me his name. I hope to extend his legacy with my students as well.
Reply
Michael Chase
April 2, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Such sad news about Mr. Seward, my prayers and thoughts go out with his family. I never had Mr. Seward as a teacher but he was one of those teachers that always liked to take part in football or softball during recess. Mr. Seward felt like he was one of us and a teacher when class resumed
.
Reply
Phil Nichols
May 10, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Carol and I were so glad that we were able to travel back to visit Duane and Gisela in 2011.
Duane was not only my favorite uncle, he was my best friend when I was a young man. I looked up to him and I’ll never forget his easy going and inquisitive outlook on life. He never said an unkind word about anyone. I wish that I could have spent more time with him later in life.
We all will miss him.
Reply
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He was born December 19, 1933 in Gaylord, MI the son of Elsie Sniffin and Charles Seward. After graduating from high school he joined the US Navy and served his country from 1956 to 1962. He studied education at Western Michigan University and was a teacher for 30 years in Michigan and Arizona. Duane loved traveling and enjoyed taking the back roads. He was a devoted family man who liked camping with his family and spent many hours hiking in the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico with his best friend Ed. Duane loved his grandchildren and attended many of their activities over the years. On December 16, 1966 in he married Gisela Nitschke, his beloved wife of 48 years, who survives.
Also surviving is his daughter, Sabina (Richard) Boston of Paw Paw; grandchildren, Raymond (Toni) Miller, Heidi Moat and Teddy (Monica) Moat all of Arizona, Andy (Amanda) Seidel of Schoolcraft and Juan Seidel of Kalamazoo, along with 8 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Petra in 2008 and by his sisters Earla Nichols and Barbara Dudley.
Cremation has taken place.
A Memorial Service honoring the life of Duane will be held Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Congregational Church of Otsego.
Contributions in memory of Duane may be made to the
Wounded Warriors Project
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.
WinkelFuneralHome
.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Duane A. Seward
Condolence Messages
Jamie Collins
March 12, 2015 at 6:33 pm
I am a friend of Sabina and Richard. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family as well as prayers for peace during this difficult time.
Reply
Lee and Diane Boysen
March 12, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Gisela, Sabina, Richard, Juan, Andy and families.
Please accept our most sincere sympathies in the loss of Duane. We are thinking of all of you during this most difficult time.
Reply
Christine Myers
March 12, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully his passing will bring you peace knowing he longer suffers.
Reply
Betty (LaFountain) Burkowski
March 13, 2015 at 1:56 am
You were always my favorite uncle. There were many happy times with you, when I would stay with Grandma. I remember when you would practice golf swings in the field behind her house and how excited I would get whenever I found one and brought it back to you. I remember sitting at the dining room table and you letting me help you grade papers. And of course I was close to Petra, better known to me as “Pete”. We shared many, many happy times as well. I love you both.
Reply
Kathleen O'Keefe
March 13, 2015 at 7:18 am
Gisela, Sabina, and family, I am so sorry for your loss.
Reply
John and Diana Elsner, Sarasota, FL
March 13, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Our dear friends Richard and Sabina, we are so sorry for your loss. In our imperfect world, sorrow comes to all, and it comes with bitter agony and biting tears. Perfect relief is never possible, except eased with the passage of time and belief that Christ Jesus brings us all to eternal life and perfect peace in His time to those who believe in Him. The suffering of adversity exalts you, Richard and Sabina. Human tribulation teaches you; it never destroys. The more we all are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance for the next. The more we experience sorrow in the present, the greater will be our joy in the future. May God’s presence, perfect peace, and abundant blessings be with you Richard and Sabina and your family. Your father now rests in perfect peace.
Reply
Jon Barton
March 16, 2015 at 7:25 pm
He will be missed. He was my 5th grade teacher and had quite an impact on my life. I later joined the Navy myself. My heart goes out to his family.
Reply
Tom Fevig
March 22, 2015 at 7:28 am
My condolences to the family. Mr. Seward was one of my favorite teachers. He used to play catcher and umpire during our softball games at recess. About 35 years later when he saw that I mentioned him on our class website, he remembered me and sent me a nice email. I’m sorry he is gone, but I’m certain all who knew him will have many fond memories to cherish.
Reply
Jim Swoboda
April 2, 2015 at 11:51 am
My condolences to the family of Mr. Seward. He was my 5th grade teacher and as so many of our Plainwell teachers did, he left a lasting impact in helping to shape who we all became.
God Bless!
Reply
Brian Walker
April 2, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Prayers for the family. Such sad news. So many fond memories of him as my teacher in grade school. Always throwing the football or playing softball at recess. He was a very kind soul and a great teacher.
Reply
Dennis Duane Nichols
April 2, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Aunt Gisela and family,
I just heard today of my Uncle’s passing. My prayers are with you at this time. Uncle Duane was my favorite extended family member ( along with Aunt Barbara-RIP).
He always encouraged me as a young boy to be all I could be. I enjoyed his friendly demeanor and gentle humor. My mother must have loved her brother deeply too to give me his name. I hope to extend his legacy with my students as well.
Reply
Michael Chase
April 2, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Such sad news about Mr. Seward, my prayers and thoughts go out with his family. I never had Mr. Seward as a teacher but he was one of those teachers that always liked to take part in football or softball during recess. Mr. Seward felt like he was one of us and a teacher when class resumed
.
Reply
Phil Nichols
May 10, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Carol and I were so glad that we were able to travel back to visit Duane and Gisela in 2011.
Duane was not only my favorite uncle, he was my best friend when I was a young man. I looked up to him and I’ll never forget his easy going and inquisitive outlook on life. He never said an unkind word about anyone. I wish that I could have spent more time with him later in life.
We all will miss him.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
Your Name
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Your Email
*
Their Name
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Their Email
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