Eric Eugene Durnan of Wadena entered into eternal rest at 7pm, on September 20, 2023 at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, IA. He passed peacefully with family surrounding him.
Eric was born in the early morning hours of December 24th, 1975 at Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri to Bernard Luke and Teresa Ann Kane Durnan. He was baptized at Grace Methodist Church in Waterloo, Iowa on April 1st, 1976. Eric spent the first few years of his life near Buckner, Mo. before his family moved to rural Arlington, Iowa in November of 1977. In 1980, his family purchased 5 acres east of Rowley. Eric attended the East Buchanan Community School at both Quasky and Winthrop. In March of 1987, his family purchased 33 acres one mile west of Walker and his family formally moved to that farm that June. Eric then attended North Linn Community Schools. Eric started his working life early, lying about his age. He spent his summers detasseling corn for Paul Strobehn out of Reinbeck for a few years from 1989 to 1992. Eric would also work for farmers around Walker and the surrounding area and at age 17, he went to work in Cedar Rapids doing odd jobs. Eric worked as a telemarketer, telephone operator, and because he lied about his age, he worked in various factories. Eric left school after one week of his senior year. He preferred working towards earning a paycheck more than he did a diploma. He would go on to earn his GED in the spring of 1997 from NICC in Calmar.
In February of 1994, Eric took a job for Iowa Ham Canning out of Independence, and in November of that year, he left his father’s home and, having family in these parts, moved to Volga, Iowa. He took a job at Atwood Automotive in West Union.
He eventually moved to Clermont and on March 5th, 1997, at West Union, he married Colleen Dawn Cooley, daughter of Dave and Margo Keune Cooley. Together they had two daughters, Lisa and Brandi. They separated in 1999 and formally divorced in May of 2002.
Eric took a job for Cahoy Well Pump out of Fredericksburg in April of 1997. He was nearly killed in a work accident later that summer. Eric never fully recovered physically from this accident and in August of 1997, Eric pursued a career in truck driving. He turned to his family and friends who worked at Schneider Motorways, and they trained him how to drive semi. Eric would drive truck mostly hauling dairy products for the next ten years, almost all of which was for the Schneider family.
Eric moved to Wadena in the early fall of 2001. That August, Eric was introduced to KinDee Sue Nicholson, the daughter of Lawrence and Peggy Wheeland Nicholson, and the couple married at West Union on October 23rd, 2002. They would become the parents of three children; Jenna, Sean, and Karen.
Eric’s health started declining in 2002 for various reasons. Eric and KinDee enjoyed the “small town” nature and natural beauty of Wadena and in June of 2004, they purchased their home on the corner of Mill and Herriman where they have since resided.
In April of 2005, Eric converted to the Roman Catholic faith and received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Archbishop Hanus at Elkader the following March. Eric is a member of St. Francis of Assisi in Fayette, having previously been members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Volga, and St. Joseph’s in Elkader.
Eric continued to work as long as he could, but declining health forced him to pull his last load of milk in June of 2007. Eric turned his attention towards his family whom he often felt estranged from due to his profession. He also studied his family’s genealogy and history in general. He became the family historian and has spent the better part of his later years preserving much of his family’s history. Eric has discovered and been in contact with many distant family members.
Eric will be remembered for his sense of humor, large heart, intelligence, and love of family. He had a strong Christian faith which he developed as a child following his sister’s death. Eric never took anything or anyone for granted. He had a strong sense of right and wrong and was notoriously vocal about his beliefs. For those years he was able, he was a hard worker, enjoyed gardening, spending time with family, and was an avid writer. He was a faithful spouse and a rock in the lives of his wife and children, and to the many people who truly knew him.
He leaves on this earth to mourn his passing; his wife KinDee of Wadena, his children; Lisa and Brandi Durnan of West Union, Jenna and Conner Roberts, Boone, IA, Sean, and Karen Durnan at home; step children; Tyler Drips and Sam Johnson, Fayette and Kaleb Drips, Fayette, five grandchildren; Audrey, Remmington, Wyatt, Francis, and Margaret. His parents; Bernard Luke Durnan (Kathy) of Walker, Teri Kane-White (Chuck) of Oelwein, his siblings; Casey Durnan of Durham, NC; Joni Durnan of Independence, Sam Durnan (Katy) of Jesup, Courtney Durnan of rural Earlville, and Joseph Kane of Cedar Rapids; his mother in law; Peg Puhl of McGregor, several nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and cousins; and very close friends, Sean Monaghan of El Paso, TX; Steve Popelar of Walker, and John Bollman of West Un
Eric was preceded in death by his grandparents; one sibling, Lisa Marie Durnan, who died of meningitis in 1983, and his father-in-law; Lawrence Nicholson.
Per Eric’s request, he will be buried in a private manner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Wadena on Saturday September 23, 2023.