Duane Zacher

Rugby

Duane Zacher, 79, of Oshkosh, WI, passed away peacefully on Friday April 24, 2026 at Northern Lights Rehab and LTC in Minot, ND. Funeral services will be held Thursday April 30th at 11 AM CST at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Hazen, ND with the burial to follow. Visitation will be held one night prior on Wednesday April 29th, from 4-6 PM CST at Barbot Funeral Home in Beulah, ND. A vigil will begin at 6 PM CST.

Duane Steve Zacher was born May 26th, 1946 in Rugby, ND to Steve and Christine (Keller) Zacher. He was raised on the family farm near Silva, ND. He attended school in Silva, ND until the 6th grade. From there he continued his education in Rugby, ND and graduated in 1964. In school he was active in track, wrestling, and football where he received a Football Scholarship to Wahpeton, ND. In Wahpeton he received his associate’s degree.

After college, Duane began his electrician career just working for local contractors in the Rugby area. He lived in Cando, ND working at ABM missile sites, from there he worked for several power plants in the Stanton area and the gasification plant in Beulah, ND. He was a lifelong member of IBEW Local 714 in Minot, ND.

Duane was an avid hunter, fisherman, and enjoyed restoring motorcycles and a 1961 Chevy Apache short box pickup. He enjoyed making and flying drones, airplanes, and helicopters.

He married Agnes Schuh in 1969 and they had two daughters; Shelly Ann Zacher of Minot, ND, and Julie Gutierrez, Bakersfield, CA. He is also survived by four grandchildren; Steven James Zarr, Samantha Jo Mertz, Hunter Duane Zacher, and Shelly Fran Ibach. Seven great-grandchildren, his siblings; Judi Kruse, Blue Springs MO, Marilyn Kitzman and Kenneth Zacher, Willow City, ND. He is also survived by his sister-in-law; Betty Giese of Glen Ullin, ND, and two brothers-in-law; Henry Schuh of Sarasota, FL, and Milo Schuh of Dickinson, ND.

Duane was preceded in death by his wife; Agnes in 1990, his parents Steve and Christine Zacher, along with several aunts, uncles, cousins, and his companion of 30 years, Barb Paulos of Oshkosh, WI.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 29, 2026.