Dwayne “Duke” Schroeder, age 83 of Mankato, Minnesota died on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at his home. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026, at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye with a Parish Rosary at 3:30 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 3:45 p.m. prior to the visitation. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church – North Entrance. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The clergy will be Fr. Craig Timmerman. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by Sleepy Eye Honor Guard. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Dwayne “Duke” Carl Schroeder, the son of Raymond Schroeder and Dorothy (Hopp) Schroeder, was born on July 12, 1943. He graduated from Sleepy Eye Public School in 1962, where he enjoyed playing sports including basketball, football, track and baseball.
Duke married Veronica Marso on September 9, 1967, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. They were married 59 years and raised three daughters, Janelle, Kathy and Ann. He was a devoted family man and a loving husband, father and grandfather. Duke’s steadfast love for his family was displayed in many ways including spending time together and by faithfully attending events for his children and grandchildren.
Affable and a hard worker, Duke began his lifelong career in the grocery business right out of high school. He worked in Sleepy Eye, St. Cloud, Two Harbors, Edina, Buffalo, Waseca, and Mankato. He purchased his first store, “Jack and Jill” in 1977 in St. James and he went on to purchase two more stores in Sherburne and North Mankato. Duke loved his work and talking with and getting to know his customers. Friendly and a bit of a BS’er, Duke’s resiliency and dedication allowed him to work until he retired just short of his 80th birthday.
Duke enjoyed golfing with friends, watching and attending sporting events, traveling, yard work or “digging in the dirt” as he called it, having family over on Sundays for boating, and sitting and enjoying the peacefulness of the lake. He spent countless hours preparing, fixing, and putting up Christmas lights much to the enjoyment of others. He had a lifelong love for playing cards. Whether he was playing with his friends, extended family, the couples card club, his children, grandchildren, or his wife, he was very competitive and enjoyed the quality time spent together. Duke was a fun loving, caring, thoughtful, sentimental and “wise” gentleman who cherished spending time with his family and friends. Duke knew how to work hard and play hard.
Duke is survived by his beloved wife, Veronica “Ronny” Schroeder of Mankato, MN; daughters, Janelle (Michael) Roban of Independence, MN and Ann Schroeder of Golden Valley, MN; grandchildren, Arianna Roban and Joshua Roban; sister, Linda Drexler of Franklin, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathy Schroeder; parents, Raymond and Dorothy; brother, Gene Schroeder; stepfather, Milton Toreen; and many brothers and sisters-in-law.