Maurice S. Durkee, 86

Winnebago — Maurice S. Durkee, age 86 of Winnebago, died Jan. 15, 2010 at his home. Funeral services were held Jan. 19, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Winnebago. Rev. Michael Roys officiated. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery in Blue Earth. Patton Funeral Home and Cremation Service was in charge of arrangements.

Maurice was born Feb. 16, 1923 in Winnebago, the son of Harold Cady and Amy (Scoles) Durkee. He was raised and educated in Winnebago where he graduated from Winnebago High School. He attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he was a golden gloves boxer and member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He served in the Merchant Marines during WWII and returned to Winnebago where he was married to Maxine F. Zimmerman on Sept. 15, 1956 at the United Church in Mapleton. The couple farmed at rural Winnebago for many years, where Maurice was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, the Winnebago Masonic Lodge, Toastmasters, Eastern Star, Verona Farmers Club and was a 20-year plus member of the Verona Township Board. Maurice raised and showed champion crossbred hogs throughout the Midwest and was a longtime breeder and trainer of Giant Homer Pigeons. He was a national breeder, showman, judge and past president of the American Giant Homer Association where he earned the title Master Breeder and was inducted to the hall of fame. He also enjoyed the camaraderie of the pigeon fanciers, all sports, planting many varieties of trees and evergreens, farming the land, and collecting and landscaping rocks and boulders from mines in the Black Hills.

Maurice is survived by his wife, Maxine, of Winnebago, children, Michael (Angie) Durkee, of Blaine, Mark (Margaret) Durkee, of Truman, Michele (Bruce) Decker, of Glencoe, Monica (Paul) Anderson, of Zumbro Falls, eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, mother-in-law, Alice Madsen, sister-in-law, Marjorie Zimmerman, brothers-in-law, Larry Zimmerman and Dale (DuAnn) Zimmerman and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Doris Bizgaurd and Barbara Lee Strite.

Web tributes may be left for the family at www.pattonfh.com