Duane Rader

Duane Ellwood Rader, 83, of Mansfield, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, following complications from a hemorrhagic stroke.

He was born in Crestline to Donald and Mollie (Remy) Rader and lived in the area his entire life.

Duane was a humble, hardworking man who gave freely of his time, talents, and knowledge. From working on the family farm and milking cows to his many years as a supervisor at Empire Detroit, from which he retired, Duane took pride in doing a job well and helping others along the way. He especially enjoyed working with and supporting 4-H youth, passing along what he had learned and encouraging young people as they learned and grew. He rounded out his professional career with The Ohio State University Extension, where he continued to put his knowledge and experience to work helping others succeed.

In 1969, Duane married Kay Shook, and together they shared nearly 60 years of marriage. Their life together was built around family, faith, hard work, and many interests they enjoyed together.

Duane had a lifelong love of Ayrshire cattle. He spent many years showing Ayrshire cattle alongside his daughter, Becky, making special memories together, with Mom helping, too. Their shared love of the breed and agriculture gave them many opportunities to spend time together and enjoy something they all cared about. Duane also collected all things Ayrshire, especially milk bottles. One of his proudest collections came from Alta Crest Farms in Massachusetts. The former dairy farm is now a monastery, which Duane visited frequently as he continued his quest to round out his collection. Along the way, his collecting took him to many places and introduced him to many people. He enjoyed talking with others who shared his interest and was always willing to pass along what he knew.

His love of travel extended well beyond his collecting. Duane proudly served his country as a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, a part of his life of which he was especially proud. He cherished the memories of traveling to Spain with the Corps, and those experiences remained among his fondest memories. His lifelong interest in agriculture took him to Israel, where he explored agricultural practices while also visiting places of deep significance to his faith. A later journey to Africa was rooted primarily in his faith and gave him the opportunity to experience new places, meet new people, and deepen his faith. These journeys reflected Duane’s curiosity, his love of learning, and his willingness to embrace new experiences.

A lifelong Ohio State fan, Duane attended The Ohio State University’s main campus for one year before returning home to the family farm following the sudden death of his mother. He also enjoyed running and, at the age of 67, completed the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.

Duane was a member of both St. Mary Catholic Church and St. Peter Catholic Church. His faith was a steady part of his life, and he served both churches as a lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and on various committees. He often led others in prayer and was someone people could turn to for prayers for healing, guidance, and strength. His faith was something he lived and shared with others, offering encouragement and prayer whenever someone needed it.

Duane is survived by his wife, Kay; his daughter, Becky; his granddog, Mabry; his brother, David Rader; his sisters, Nancy Dean and Charlene Bard; brother-in-law David (Linda) Shook; his uncle, Darrell Rader; some cousins; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws; his brothers-in-law, Robert Shook and James Shook; and his sister-in-law, Linda Lashley, née Shook.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions in honor of Duane and his lifelong dedication to encouraging, mentoring, and supporting young people through 4-H. Contributions may be made online through the Ohio 4-H Foundation, with the designation “Richland County 4-H Current Use Fund,” or by mailing a check with “Richland County 4-H Fund 318820” noted in the memo line to:

The Ohio State University Foundation
Secure Processing Center
P.O. Box 736096
Chicago, IL 60673

Memorial contributions may also be made to St. Mary Catholic Church or St. Peter Catholic Church.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 18 from 10:00 – 11:00am at St. Peter Catholic Church, 60 S. Mulberry Street. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00am with military services following the Mass provided by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail. Burial in Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington will take place later that day at 3:00pm.

Duane will be remembered for his quiet strength, generous spirit, love of family and faith, and his willingness to lend a helping hand. He lived a life rooted in the things that mattered most to him—family, faith, hard work, service to his country, and the people and interests he cared about.