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DUANE RICHARD PERKINS
Duane Richard Perkins passed away on June 23, 2023, after a short illness at the age of 76 in the presence of his family.
Duane was loved and will be missed by his partner Ann Szabo, their daughter Aniko, son-in-law Roland Sawatzky, grandchildren, Oskar and Alma; his sister Kathy and brother-in-law Walter; brother Charles; great-niece Nora; niece Kati (Sean) and Eszti (Michael); brother-in-law Geza (Adel); brother-in-law Tibor (Katalin); niece Kati (Alex), Carrie, Ginny (Brij) and their children and close friend Heather Cram and family.
Born 1947 in Chicago, he moved to Winnipeg in the 1970s. Shortly after, Duane met Ann. Together they built a life where family, art and culture blossomed.
He was a full-time ceramicist for more than 50 years working primarily in porcelain, concentrating on form, colour, and painterly surfaces. His art graces many homes and galleries throughout North America.
Duane was an individualist. With a background in art and philosophy, he lived his life in accordance with his ideals, emphasizing truth and beauty. He had a way of cutting through pleasantries and raising questions, getting to the heart of the matter.
Duane was drawn to nature, treating gardens and domestic landscapes as canvases, creating great beauty. Often solitary and contemplative, he was happy planting, growing, pruning and encouraging the plant world.
Duane was a friend and a mentor to those close to him a source of emotional sustenance, forbearance, and love. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, uncle and great-uncle. He had a special connection with the youth in his life, always listening and engaging in their ideas and seeing their individual personalities. Despite the age difference, he connected with his grandchildren as a peer. He adored them, and they him.
His Christian spirituality was expressed through his appreciation for gospel music and in the guidance he gave to the young people in his life.
“Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son”
–Vincent Grant Gill
He was utterly unique and will live in our hearts until we meet again.
A gathering will take place on August 24, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 30, 2023, Jul 01, 2023
Condolences & Memories (8 entries)
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I was Duane's roommate his freshman year at Bethel College 1965-66. We were not close -- two people very different in style and personality. I was a short, introverted, conservative, small-town Baptist from Michigan. Duane was a gangly, curly redhead from Chicago, a flamboyant character on a staid campus, a Lake Michigan "surfer" who opened my world to the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Dylan and the Ramsey Lewis Trio. When the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. appeared at an antiwar rally Minnesota State Fair grounds, just across Snelling Ave. from the old Bethel campus, it was Duane who invited me to join him and his friends at the speech. I don't think I had ever heard of King until then. And it was Duane who loaned me his little sports car, a white Triumph I think, when my girlfriend came to visit one weekend during sophomore year. She was soon to become my wife and we moved to Ann Arbor, where I finished my degree. Normajean died last January; we'd been married 55 years. After leaving Bethel in 1967, I saw Duane only once. I looked him up in Minneapolis while on a motorcycle quest during a dark time in my life. He put me up in his apartment for a few days, to my enduring gratitude. We knew each other so little, we could hardly have called ourselves friends. But he was a person who left a mark on my life, and I have often wondered what happened to him. Thanks to Google, I now know, with regret. To all who loved and miss Duane, my sincerest condolences, should you happen upon this belated message. He was one of a kind, and I mourn him with you. - Posted by: David Gunnar Carlson (College roommate) on: Nov 15, 2023
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I was so sad to hear of Duane’s passing. While we never met I was so fortunate to know him through Ann who I worked with. Indeed I was lucky enough to be gifted with some of his amazing ceramics. Ann I’m sure your heart is broken and missing your life partner. You are in my thoughts. May the many memories you made together be a blessing. - Posted by: Éliette Allec (Friend of Ann ) on: Aug 30, 2023
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I grew up in the same church as Duane and spent a couple of years at Bethel College with him. I remember Duane, his brother, sister snd parents. He always had a smile, a good word and positive outlook on things. Duane was one of those fine young men who emmigrated to Winnipeg because of his stance on the war. He has gone too soon. - Posted by: Bob (Sundquist ) on: Aug 14, 2023
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Dear Friend, Your sudden departure left a huge vacuum in our hearts. We shall forever cherish the wonderful moments we have shared over the years. Your masterpieces in our home will forever remind us of you. You are a beautiful person and our lives are richer for having known you. Rest in peace, Duane. - Posted by: Alina and Jozsi (Friends) on: Jul 05, 2023
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I met Duane through Ann (Respiratory Hospital Nursing) though I knew of Duane's craftsmanship in pottery/stoneware as I was a novice in this craft but listening to a master talking about his craft and his newest experiment in glaring was a great lesson. I was able to give Duane my pottery supplies when I no longer did pottery at the most simplistic level, and knowing he was stickler when it came to the purity of glaze materials, he could see that I shared that purist attitude. I will value the pottery items that Duane shared with me and I am truly sorry hear of his death. The family, friends and Ann, I wish you peace. - Posted by: Trish Rawsthorne (Friend of Duane and Ann) on: Jul 03, 2023
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Duane never bullshitted. He made the most beautiful stoneware I have ever seen. - Posted by: James (Jim) Cameron (conaissance) on: Jul 01, 2023
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Duane and his family grew up at Edgewater Baptist Church in Chicago as mine did. I knew him as a child, and as a young man. He was kind and engaging and I’m happy he had a good life. - Posted by: Nancy Johnson (Friend) on: Jul 01, 2023
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Dear Duane, The Good Lord took you from us too early, thus we couldn’t even say goodbye. The thought of you will always remain in our hearts. We trust in the Lord, that some day in the future we shall meet again. May you rest in peace dear friend. Zsuzsa and Frank. - Posted by: Zsuzsa and Frank Major (Friend) on: Jul 01, 2023