Duane Arlen Nedervelt

June 18, 1943 ~ May 23, 2021 (age 77)

Duane Arlen Nedervelt passed away Sunday, May 23, 2021. He was born June 18, 1943 in Kalamazoo, MI a son of John and Blanche (Wilson) Nedervelt, Jr.

Duane had the heart of a servant. He was a devoted husband and father. He was always volunteering at the school activities of his son and two daughters, served as a youth group leader in their church, and attended countless campouts with the Brownies, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. The Nedervelts extended love to many foster children over the years, demonstrating to them their family status as sons and daughters. When not spending time with his family, Duane was looking out for the needs of others with regular blood donations through the Red Cross, meal deliveries through Meals on Wheels, and building homes through Habitat for Humanity. He and Kay also learned sign language together in order to demonstrate their love to a hearing impaired couple in their church.

Duane loved the outdoors and particularly enjoyed hosting families to camp at their wooded northern Michigan property, Rocky Pines. Duane and Kay enjoyed several trips together in later years including an inland passage cruise of Alaska and a trip to the National Parks of the Rocky Mountains in their campervan "Turtle." These trips also provided great subject matter for his photography hobby. He earned his private pilot's license and loved to fly his Cessna 172. He volunteered with the Young Eagles program which encourages youth to develop a love for flying.

He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the Kalamazoo Downstreamers canoeing club, and the Portage Free Methodist Church for more than 30 years.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kenny Nedervelt; brother Dale Nedervelt; and sister, Delores Hartman. On July 6, 1963 he married Kathryn "Kay" Pavey. Duane is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth "Libbie" (Jeff) Wetters and Caralee (Mark) Ehrhardt; seven grandchildren, Red and Jarrett Wetters and Josh, Tim, Ian, Luke, and Leah Ehrhardt; many other adopted children and grandchildren; and many lifelong friends. A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021 from 12-2pm when a memorial service will begin at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S 9th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo or the EAA Aviation Center - Young Eagles program. To view Duane's personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com