Duane Caspers

Duane Carl Caspers, age 89, of Lisbon, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Rehabilitation Center of Lisbon. Visitation: 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Memorial Services: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at the Lisbon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and plants, memorial contributions in Duane’s memory may be directed to Southeast Linn Community Center.

Duane was born on June 23, 1937, in Castle Grove Township near Monticello, Iowa, to Tobe and Anna (Fahrni) Caspers. The youngest of six children, Duane grew up on his father’s farm and by 15 was attending school while also running the family farm. In 1955, at the age of 18, Duane joined the Army National Guard and remained a member until 1961. He graduated from Monticello High School in 1956.

On April 19, 1959, Duane married the love of his life, Anna Friederich, in Elgin, Iowa, and the two were blessed with 56 years of marriage until her passing in 2016. Duane was a farm hand until he and Anna moved to Lisbon in 1965 where he started working at Ironcrafters. He purchased Ironcrafters in 1966 and owned and operated the business until 1986. Duane then worked at the Anamosa Reformatory and Leisure Popcorn until his retirement. He stayed busy in his retirement years by driving for All State Steel.

Duane enjoyed camping, wine making, serving as a Scout Master, taking fishing trips to Minnesota, going to gas engine shows and garage sales with Anna, mushroom hunting, and his very favorite, Hershey’s Chocolate Nuggets. He tended to his vegetable garden to make various canned goods and always shared vegetables and mushrooms with friends and neighbors. Duane never met a stranger and could strike up conversations easily lasting over half an hour. Duane owned a 1935 Model B John Deere which he often took his grandkids and neighborhood kids on rides around town.

Duane is survived by his children, Bruce (Joan) Caspers, Troy (Kay) Caspers, Andrew (Julie) Caspers, and Heather Caspers (Charlie Babcock); grandchildren, Casey (Sara) Caspers, Sadie (Josh) Jones, Zach Caspers (Sarah), Christopher (Jenny) Caspers, Hunter Caspers (Nicole), Bailey (Austin) Hill, Alexandra (Ethan) Kamerling, Adeline (Kyle) Jackson, Patrick (Anna) Myers, and Hannah Myers; and 22 great grandchildren.

Along with his wife, Anna, Duane was also preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Paul Caspers, Edwin Casper, and Don Caspers; sisters, Lorna Messerli, Carol Zumbach, and Adeline Caspers; and granddaughter, Bethany Caspers.