Duane Schwab
June 23, 1947-Feb. 11, 2020
Duane Schwab, 72, of
Woodlake ND, passed
away unexpectedly on
February 11, 2020.
He was born in Em-
mons County, ND, on
June 23, 1947 to Dennis
and Marie (Keller)
Schwab. He was a 1966
graduate of St. Mary’s
High School in Devils
Lake before graduating
from Lake Region Junior
College in 1968 and Minot
State College in 1970.
Duane was united in mar-
riage at St. Joseph Cathol-
ic Church to Linda Zarr
on August 22, 1969. He
was a member of St.
Joseph Catholic Church,
the Elks Club, and the
Knights of Columbus in
Devils Lake.
Duane’s passion was
people. ‘Schwaby,’ as he
was known, enjoyed
sports, the lake, his coffee
groups, winters in Arizo-
na, telling stories and
jokes, but his biggest
sources of pride were his
student-athletes, family,
and faith. He especially
enjoyed following his
granddaughters in their
academics and activities.
Duane’s career was one
of servitude and leader-
ship. He began his
teaching and coaching
career at Lake Region
Junior College before
making stops at Lakota
and Crary High Schools.
He returned to Lake Re-
gion, where he spent the
next 25 years capturing
572 wins, 14 conference
championships, and nine
trips to the national tour-
nament. He enjoyed the
people he worked with
and the many players and
families he came to know
and love. He was a men-
tor and father figure to his
players and enjoyed
watching them succeed
long after they left Lake
Region. He was induct-
ed into the Lake Region
State College Athletic Hall
of Fame as well as the
NJCAA National Basket-
ball Hall of Fame.
Duane is survived by
his wife of 50 years Linda,
Woodlake; his children
Cory (Katie), Las Vegas,
NV, Brady (Lyndsey),
Thompson, ND; grand-
daughters Dru, Andie, and
Quin; siblings: Adrian,
Fargo, ND; Jerry (Ann),
Bismarck, ND; Rich
(Fran), Devils Lake, ND;
Randy, Bismarck, ND;
mother-in-law Helen Zarr,
Devils Lake; sisters-in-law
Sharon Dosch, Lincoln,
NE; Jackie (Richard) John-
son, Devils Lake; num-
erous aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews, and
cousins. He was preced-
ed in death by his
parents, father-in-law
John Zarr, and brother-
in-law Ron Dosch.
A Phoenix, Arizona,
celebration of life was
held on Saturday, Febru-
ary 15, at the Club House
in Arcadia Grove. Mass of
a Christian Burial will be
held on Saturday, Febru-
ary 22, 2020, at 10:00 AM
at St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church, Devils Lake, ND,
with a lunch to follow at
the Parish Center. A
celebration of life will be
held at the Robert Fawcett
Auditorium at Lake Re-
gion State College, Devils
Lake, ND, at 5:30 pm on
Friday, February 21, 2020.
In lieu of flowers and
gifts, any donations can
be sent to LRSC Commun-ity College Foundation in
honor of Duane Schwab,
1598 United States, 1801
College Dr N, Devils Lake,
ND 58301.