AUGUST DUENO (d. 1926)

FORMER FIRE CHIEF A. DUENO PASSES
WAS FIRST PAID CHIEF OF CITY FIRE FORCES
August Dueno, pioneer resident, civil war veteran and ex-fire chief of the
city, passed peacefully on at the family home, 844 North Ninth street, at
7 o'clock this morning after a long illness. Death was due to infirmities
incident to old age and came as a relief from long suffering. He had been
unconsicious for two days and the end was not unexpected. The death
occurred just eleven years to the day after that of a daughter. Mrs. Ida
Ward who died at Vancouver, British Columbia. The funeral will be held
Monday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from the home under the auspices of
Manitwooc Lodge No. 194, I.O.O.F., the Rev. A.R.E. Schreiber officiating.
Burial will be at Evergreen.
August Dueno was born at Milwaukee September 10, 1847 and had just passed
his seventy-ninth birthday. He came to this city with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Fredrick Dueno as a child years before the Civil war, his father having
accepted a position with the ship yards here as engineer, a position which
he retained as long as he was able to work. At the age of eighteen Mr. Dueno
enlisted for war service and served through the campaign as a member of
Co. G, 39th Wisconsin, Capt. Patchen commanding. He escaped without being
wounded and after peace was declared returned to Manitowoc to make his home,
securing employment as chief engineer at the William Rahr and Sons company
and becoming a member of the volunteer fire department where he held the
position of engineer. Shortly after his return he was married to Miss Minnie
Ernst and five children were born to the couple. His wife died June 22, 1884,
and two years later, January 3, 1886 Mr. Dueno was married to Elizabeth
Kuecker, the family continuing to make their home here. Nine children were
born to the union, all of whom are living.
City's First Paid Chief
Mr. Dueno's interest and activeness with the volunteer fire department brought
its reward in the appointment to the position of chief when the organization
was put on a full time, paid basis for some men with volunteers to assist at
the larger fires. As chief Mr. Dueno made an invaluble record, holding that
post until the (unreadable few words.)-tirely re-organized in 1903 and John H.
Kratz brought here as the chief. Mr. Dueno retiring because of advancing age.
For a number of years after his retirement Mr. Dueno was at Milwaukee where
he remained at the Soldiers Home but he returned here a number of years ago
and lived in retirement at his home. His mind was keen and he was thoroughly
????? on local events, remaining interest ?? his final illness.
Pioneer Odd Fellow
As a young man Mr. Dueno joined Chickerming Lodge No. 55, I.O.O.F. and when
the German order, Manitowoc Lodge No. 194 was formed he became a charter member
and served as its first secretary. He held other official positions and was one
of the best posted men on the work in the city. He held a life membership and
was one of the oldest Odd Fellows, in point of membership, in the state. He was
also a member of the Horace M. Walker Post G.A.R. and held an honorary life
membership with the Otto Oas Post Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Surviving Mr. Dueno are the widow and eleven children, George of this city and
Mrs. Fred Pautsch of Milwaukee by the first marriage, three others having
preceded him in death, Edward, Mrs. Emma Marques, of Minneapolis and Mrs. Ida
Ward of Vancouver; and William of Chicago, Frank, a marine engineer out of New
Orleans, Fred an engineer for the Westinghouse company at Cincinnati, Julius,
Chicago; Henry and August, at home; Mrs. Louis Nortemann of this city, Mrs.
Herbert Kuentz of Appleton and Marie, a student for nurse at Madison. There are
six grandchildren and five brothers, Frank, Charles, Ernst, Emil and John, all
of this city. A sister died recently at Milwaukee.
Manitowoc Herald News, Saturday, October 16, 1926 P.4