Duane Ralph Carlblom, 74, of Cloquet, Minn., went to be with his Lord on Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, after fighting a long courageous battle with lung cancer. Duane was born in 1933, at home in Delton Township of Mountain Lake, Minn., to Clarence and Florence Carlblom. He graduated from Jeffers High School, Jeffers, Minn., in 1951. Following graduation he worked on his family farm until his enlistment in the United States Army in 1953. Upon his honorable discharge in 1955 he returned to the family farm.
In 1960 he began an amazing 22-year insurance career that began with Farm Bureau Insurance Company where he broke the company all time record for new sales for a new agent and held the "Royal Court of Honor" achievement from 1962 to 1964. In 1967 he began managing the Farmers National Bank Agency in Waseca (later known as First Bank Systems) until his promotion and transfer to manage Cloquet Northern Insurance Agency. He continued his progression in the insurance industry becoming co-owner of two agencies in 1975: Reliable Insurance Agency of Cloquet and Spirit Valley Agency of Duluth. Shortly after selling his interests in the Reliable Agencies in 1982 he began his employment with Riverview Homes, Inc. until 1986 when he became an insurance consultant for Best Oil Company managing their risk insurance and fuel oil sales until his retirement in 2007 due to illness.
He believed strongly in community service which was evident throughout his life. Over the years he was a member of the 4-H Club, Gideons, Fly High Inc., Farm Bureau, Young Republicans, Civil Air Patrol, Cloquet Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors (where he was awarded Cloquet Ambassador of the Year for two years), Kiwanis, and Cloquet American Legion, holding numerous office positions in many of these organizations. Duane had been an active member of Jeffers and Windom Baptist churches having served as chairman of the Christian Board, chairman of the Board of Deacons and as a youth leader. He was currently a devoted and active member of Grace Baptist Church in Cloquet and Community Christian Church in Apache Junction, Ariz.
Duane was a genuinely kind and caring man who made everyone in his life feel important and special to him...and they were. With many passions in life over the years - hunting, fishing, traveling, camping, politics, reading, movies, square dancing, and the cabin - his greatest passion of all ended up being his love of family. From the love of his own family in Minnesota to the love of his "family" in Arizona, they all brought great joy and meaning to his life. He was surrounded by his family who deeply loved him as he went to be with his Lord.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Gail; two brothers, Mervin and Elmer Carlblom; and his beloved dog, Katy Sue.
ADVERTISEMENT
Duane is lovingly survived by his wife of 24 years, Helen Carlblom of Cloquet; two sons, Boyd Carlblom of Eveleth and David (Missy) Carlblom of Esko; two daughters, Sheryl (Ron) Dysvick of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Connie Kane of South Range, Wis.; a step-son, Mike (Mary) Hansen of Esko; four step-daughters, Cathy (Art) Wojtysiak of Cloquet, Julie (Den) Sawyer of Saginaw, Tammy (John) Schmid of Cloquet and Susan (Eric) Benn of Jacksonville, Fla.; two brothers, Glen (Luella) of Mountain Lake, Minn., and Arlen (Kathy) Carlblom of League City, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Carlblom of Windom, Minn., and Leona Carlblom of Jeffers, Minn.; 22 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and his special "sis" Nellie, who all dearly loved him.
Visitation was held Thursday, Dec. 20, from noon until the 1 p.m. memorial service in Northland Funeral Home Chapel, Cloquet, followed by a luncheon in the Fireside Room of the funeral home.
Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet, (218) 879-7184. To sign the guest book and leave an online tribute, see www.northlandfuneralhome.com .
December 27, 2007
- Cloquet, Minn.
