Duwayne Baunhofer

Charles Duwayne Baunhofer, 74, passed away at 2:09 p.m., Tuesday, August 3, 2021, at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

He was born on January 27, 1947, to William C. and Kathryn (Jacob) Baunhofer at the family home in rural Chetopa, Kansas.  He grew up with his two brothers, Darrell and Gary, on the family farm.  After graduating from high school in 1965, Duwayne moved to Wellington, Kansas, where he worked until being drafted to serve in the United States Army on May 18, 1966.  After serving his country in the Vietnam War, he was honorably discharged on May 8, 1968.  Duwayne then attended Labette Community College for a year.

Over the years, Duwayne worked for the Kansas State Department of Transportation, the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Bill's Coal, and Bingham Sand and Gravel from which he retired due to ill health.  The work that he loved was farming and raising cattle, especially his shorthorns.

He had been involved in the American Shorthorn Association and the Chetopa Veterans of Foreign Wars.  While living at the Claremore Veteran's Nursing Home, Duwayne was active in church, building crafts, playing bingo and painting.

On July 16, 1971, Duwayne and Debbie Withrow were united in marriage.  The 50-year marriage was blessed with two daughters, Courtney and Katrina, and two grandchildren, Dexton and Mersayde.  Debbie continues to live on the family farm.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Gary Baunhofer; two sisters-in-law, Cheryl and Patricia Baunhofer; one brother-in-law, Bob Lawellin; his mother and father-in-law, Helen and Jim Robinson; and one nephew, Kyle Phelan.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Duwayne at a later date that will be announced by the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to Kids with Courage, a foundation that provides "Brave Boxes" to children, young people and families to face the diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes with courage.  These may be left at or mailed to the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS  67336.