Duane ”Buzz”” Fern, 63, passed away in his home in Baldwin on November 17, 2014. Duane was diagnosed with lung cancer in late August.

Duane is survived by his wife, Dawn ””Dee Dee”” Fern (Dull); daughter, Allison (Mitch Coe) Fern; granddaughter, Marley Jean Coe (6); grandson, Crosby Duane Coe (3); mother, Rozella Fern; siblings, Allan Fern, Sandy (Doug) Walker, Joan Stone, and Jeff (Darla) Fern; aunts, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and family members and friends.

Duane is proceeded in death by his daughter, Nicole Michelle; son, Aaron Michael; and father, John Henry Fern.

Duane was born and raised in Baldwin and married his high school sweetheart, Dawn Dull on June 3, 1972. Duane and Dawn had three children. Throughout his life, he enjoyed softball, bowling, hunting, fishing, the Packers and Brewers, but most of all, cooking for and spending time with his family. Buzz was a welder at Donaldsons for many years and took pride in his work. In 1988, Duane and Dee Dee bought a cabin on Devils Lake in Webster, WI. The cabin became where the family would spend as much time as possible. Duane could often be found taking Dee Dee for a cruise around the lake or giving the grandchildren a ride on his four wheeler.

Duane was the strongest yet gentlest man any of us had ever known. He never wasted a moment when with his family, especially when with his grandchildren.

A Public Celebration of Life for Buzz will be Thursday, November 20th from 4pm to 7pm at The Orchard, 571 Hwy 63 in Baldwin. Interment will be private. There will be a Family memorial service on Thursday, November 20th at 12PM (noon) at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin. Memorials are preferred.

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