Duane Howard Gift

Duane Howard Gift passed away peacefully on March 23, 2021 after bravely fighting his failing body. He was ready for eternal rest.  Duane was born September 25, 1935 to Howard and Mary Gift in Anselmo Nebraska. Duane grew up and lived in a loving home with his parents Howard and Mary and his grandparents E. Lewis Gift and Lula Belle Gift on the family farm.

Duane joined the United States Army on September 10, 1954. After his initial training he was stationed in France where he served for two years with the 78 ^th Transportation Company as a medium truck driver. The unit he served in was part of “The Red Ball Express” which was known for their heroic efforts during World War II transporting supplies and equipment to the advancing armies in Europe. He so enjoyed his service and would often share (to anyone who would listen) the wonderful memories he had of his adventures of his time in France and Germany. While serving, one of Duane’s army buddies Charles Michel was married to a young lady Nadine Michel who lived in Hartshorn, Missouri. She had a sister named Ruthene Stringer who Charles introduced him to. They would begin writing letters to each other and after Duane left the military and was back home in Nebraska, he took a train to Mountain Grove, Missouri and a taxi the rest of the way to Hartshorn, to finally meet Ruthene. He visited for a week and returned to Nebraska. They continued to write each other and on Duane’s second trip to Missouri they were married on August 3, 1957.  After getting married they moved to Nebraska and were going to take over the family farm. A couple of weeks after arriving in Nebraska Duane received an offer to work for Chevrolet in St. Louis, Missouri. This was a great opportunity for him that he could not pass up and they moved to St. Louis. He would continue to work for GM in St. Louis and Wentzville, Missouri for 38 years until his retirement. He would often say that going to work for GM was one of the best decisions of his life.

While raising their young family in St. Louis, Duane and Ruthene made many wonderful life long friends who lived in their neighborhood. Many years of fun memories were made, with all the children and parents gathering for dinners, birthday celebrations, picnics, school events and of course Scout activities.

Duane looked forward to each summer when he could drive his family back to Nebraska for a visit with friends and family. Like many family road trips in America during the sixties and seventies, the kids and dog were packed up in the family station wagon and off they would go on the 14 hour trip. Duane would chain smoke the whole way and Ruthene would hand out sandwiches and snacks and such all while trying to keep the kids in line often resorting to anything she could find to get their attention, once including a cane pole lying across the dash from a previous fishing excursion. We so much enjoyed our yearly trips to Nebraska where it was great for a city kid to experience the wild west, ride horses and spend time with our cousins and other family. We will always cherish those memories.

During his retirement Duane enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and family. He kept himself busy running errands, doing the grocery shopping, working on word puzzles, listening to Blue Grass music and of course pestering Ruthene. He was always looking for unsuspecting strangers to have long chats with, and by the end of their conversations they would usually know pretty much his whole life story.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Mary Gift. His in laws Jeff and Eva Stringer. His wife Ruthene Gift and one son Michael Duane Gift.

He is survived by three children. Gary Gift, wife Sandy of Springfield, Missouri. Roberta Russian, husband Cliff of Troy, Missouri. Richard Gift, wife Paula of St. Charles, MO. Six grandchildren. TJ Frederking, wife Clare. Erika Warner, husband Landon, James Gift, wife Shasta. Nicholas Frederking, wife Jill. Devon Goodman and Jordan Gift. Nine great grandchildren, Andrew and Abel Frederking, Carson, Jack and Isabella Warner, Riley and Lily Gift, Payton and Bennett Frederking. He was also known as Uncle Duane to many beloved nieces and nephews.