Duaine A. Filsinger

Funeral services for Duaine A. Filsinger, 82, of Clearwater, were Monday, Dec. 23, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater, with Pastor Daniel Feusse officiating. Burial was in Clearwater Cemetery.

Duaine died Dec. 18 at his home in Clearwater. Snider Memorial Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to the family for future designations.

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Duaine Arthur Filsinger was born Aug. 29, 1937, to Arthur and Gladys (Hankla) Filsinger at home in Elgin. He attended country school, where he would ride his horse, Pal, to school. Pal would go back home and come back when school was over to bring Duaine home. He attended Bartlett High School and graduated with the Class of 1954.

He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin. After graduation, Duaine returned to teach school for three years at a country school east of Elgin.

On May 19, 1957, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Virginia Cornett. They made their home in Clearwater, where he worked for Contois Motor Co. for five years and then went to work for Nolze Implement for 30 years, before leaving and beginning Filsinger Repair, where he became nationally known for his two-cylinder repair and classic John Deere restoration.

He collected unique and rare John Deere memorabilia, tractors and two-cycle engines. He opened the “The Deere Shed,” a John Deere museum, which has brought people from around the world to hear his stories and share his passion. He enjoyed his John Deere tractors, gas engines and making crosses.

Duaine was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church and Clearwater Fire Department and Emergency Medical Technician. He belonged to RaeValley Heritage and Norfolk Two-cylinder Club. He was also a past Clearwater school board member.

He was nicknamed by his great-grandson “Grandpa Tractor”

Duaine is survived by wife, Virginia of Clearwater; children, Kim (Jose) Ramirez, of Windsor, California; Kevin (Celine) Filsinger of Clearwater; Karena (Steve) Sharples of Tilden and Kaleen (Paul) Juergens of Sheridan, Wyoming; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Betty (Dallas) Stettner of Sidney and brother-in-law, Gary (Aradelle) Cornett of Longview, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his parents.