Duane Rodamaker

Duane L. 'Deke' Rodamaker age 70 of Clarksville, IA, died Monday, July 31, 2017, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 3, 2017, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home - Olson Chapel in Nashua. Interment will be in Riverton Cemetery rural Charles City with Hunter Foster, Maddie Foster, Julianne Willadsen, Brittany Willadsen, Gina Mayer, and Dylan Mayer serving as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers are Ray Legel, Les Graeser, Lenos Connor, Larry Poppe, and Jimmy Litterer, Vern Bockhaus, and Brett Smith. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 2, 2017, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home - Olson Chapel in Nashua. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Duane Lee Rodamaker was born February 10, 1947, in Charles City, IA, the son of David and Leila (Johnson) Rodamaker. He was a 1965 graduate of Nashua High School. Duane was a wild spirit in High School and would have his occasional run-in with the local law enforcement. He frequently found his name in the paper in an undisclosed section. He once even drove up the river on ice in the middle of winter and made a quick getaway through Howards Woods. Duane began working at Gaether tiling out of High School laying tile and working there for a couple of years. In 1967, Duane started working for Hydrotile in Nashua working for the company as a Welder, and would have to swing a 25 pound hammer forming the steel that would shape the concrete. Hydrotile was eventually purchased by Black Claussen Company and Duane retired for the company after 25 years of service. On September 3, 1976, in Mason City, Duane married the love of his life Linda Sue (Hutzell) Trowbridge. To this union, they raised three daughters, Tamela, Tabatha, and Teona. After Hydrotile closed, Linda had a dream of operating a bar and restaurant. So the family began operating Cliff's Place in Horton, managing the bar from January 1995 to June 1998. It truly was a family affair and everyone helped in the operations at one point. Duane and Linda got to know people from Nashua, Plainfield, Horton, and the surrounding areas. Duane had a love for horses, beginning as a little boy when he would spend time with his uncle Bob's ponies. This began a passion for racing and breaking horses. Duane and the family owned and trained a champion quarter horse named Jets Chalkin who appeared in 12 races. Jets Chalkin won 11 races and came in second one time. Jets Chalkin won high point racehorse of 1978. They eventually purchased a stallion quarter horse named Go Sky Moon that had given Jets Chalkin her only second place. Duane was very skilled at breaking horses. He had the patience and knowledge to teach the horses and even could get them to go in the correct stall after being unhooked from the lead rope. Duane and Linda purchased an acreage west of Plainfield right after getting married. It was in very tough shape and something you would drive right by without even noticing, but Duane and Linda saw opportunity to take something in rough shape and restore it into something beautiful. With hard work and dedication the property was turned into a beautiful home, spending 40 years there together. Duane is survived by his wife of 40 years, Linda Rodamaker of Clarksville, IA; three daughters, Tamela (Brian) Mayer of Greene, IA, Tabatha (Jessy) Willadsen of Floyd, IA, Teona (Josh Murray) Foster of Nashua, IA; six grandchildren, Hunter and Madeline Foster, Julianne and Brittany Willadsen, Gina and Dylan Mayer; father, David Rodamaker of Charles City, IA; sister, Sandi Rossi of Wantage, NJ. He was preceded in death by his mother, Leila Rodamaker; grandson, Thomas Mitchell Mayer.