Carroll “Duke” Emmeck 08/24/2025

Carroll Gene (Duke) Emmeck passed away peacefully at home on his farm on Sunday, August 24, 2025, surrounded by family.

Duke was born at home on May 21, 1937 on a farm near Westport, Minnesota to Alvin and Gladys Emmeck.  He was the second son with an older brother, Dale, and two sisters, Linda and Sharon.  In his early years, he was raised on a series of sharecropper farms in Minnesota.  At around age 11, his family gave up sharecropping and moved to New Ulm, Minnesota.

When Duke was 16, he met the love of his life, Carol Geisenhoff, at Rocky Inn in Newport, Minnesota.  He noticed how pretty Carol was, but he was too shy to talk to her.  The following week, they met again and soon afterwards, they went on their first date.  It was true love. They were married on October 15, 1955, in Mason City, Iowa.

Duke and Carol raised five children, Bernadine, Toni, Mike, Jack, and Tracy and a niece, Vickie.  He always had time for his children, taking them fishing on summer evenings, enjoying hay-wagon rides, or going to the drive-in movies in Houlton, Wisconsin with a big roaster of homemade popcorn.  Duke never turned down ice cream or a bowl of popcorn.

Duke was a busy man, working full-time at Paper Calmenson Steel in Minneapolis and raising hogs, beef, chickens, and field crops on his small farm near Houlton, Wisconsin, plus being a husband and father.  He put in 30 years at the steel plant and retired at age 48 to farm full-time.  He loved his farm, often riding his four-wheeler around to check on the cattle and crops and ensure that everything was taken care of properly.  Although he complained very little about the sizable garden they planted each year, he took pride in it and savored the generous crop. Canning tomatoes and cucumbers and making homemade sauerkraut became family events, with the traditions passed on to the future generations.

Duke may have worked hard, but he also played hard.  For many years, he was in a bowling league, as well as softball leagues, including the 9R Ranch/Somerset American Legion. Always clad in his penny loafers, jeans, and sleeveless t-shirt, he hit countless home runs over the highway at the old ballpark that was located by the Somerset American Legion. After retirement, he enjoyed hunting trips for elk, mule deer, antelope, and pheasant, as well as fishing trips to Lake of the Woods.

But family was the highlight of Duke’s life.  He loved having a house full with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.  He cherished their frequent visits and holiday gatherings, and he enjoyed hosting the family reunions on the farm. With a camera or video camera frequently in his hand, Duke captured a lifetime of memories that his family will always treasure.  Duke always made time for his family and enjoyed watching his grandchildren in their sporting events.

Everyone who met Duke loved him. With his large personality and great storytelling, he left a lasting impression.  He went out of his way to include and welcome others, and no one left the farm a stranger.

Duke deeply missed his wife of 68 years, Carol Ann, when she passed away in January 2024 after several years of illness.  He said that he would be completely happy caring for her daily if she were only still with him.

Duke is preceded in death by his beloved sweetie, Carol Ann; his parents, Alvin and Gladys Emmeck; sister, Sharon Steele; and son-in-law, Jerry Thake.  He is survived by five children: Bernie (Jerry) Kroseman, Toni Thake, Mike (Lana) Emmeck, Jack (Sue) Emmeck, and Tracy (Don) Schachtner; sixteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial gathering was held on Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 1:00-4:00PM at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (728  S Knowles Ave) New Richmond, Wisconsin.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity or organization that is close to your heart.