Duane Elliot Wisse was born on Jan. 4, 1948, in Baldwin, Wisconsin, to Marion and Donna Wisse, as their oldest son. His younger brother, Bruce, was born three years later, and the family moved to a farm outside of River Falls, Wisconsin, when Duane was 11 years old. He graduated from River Falls HS in 1966 and UW-RF in 1970 with a Speech Pathology Degree, working as a speech therapist in Frederic, Siren, Webster and Grantsburg from 1970 to 1979.
“Wis” as he was affectionately known, married Jane Lewis in 1969, and they raised two kids, Jen and Jake, together in Frederic, Wisconsin. Including their dating years, they were together for 40 years until she passed in 2006. Duane was very active in the Frederic community, serving as charter president of the Frederic Lions Club in 1974, president and board member for the Frederic Golf Course, four terms as a trustee on the Frederic Village Board, and president of the Frederic Development Corporation.
Duane started working in real estate when school was off in the summers, then went full time in 1979. He became a partner in Lakes ‘N Land Realty, then the sole owner of that business in Frederic, and eventually the owner of Frederic Realty. Wis was a natural salesperson, and eventually worked for Edina Realty before retiring in 2018.
Wis loved sports, playing basketball and baseball in high school, and serving as head high school baseball coach for Frederic for three years in the ‘70s. He then got involved in what was a new sport at the time—girls basketball. Duane was Frederic’s Head Coach from 1974 to 1988, leading teams to five conference and regional championships and reaching sectional finals twice. He then became assistant boys coach for Frederic from 1988 to 1991 so he could coach both his kids while they were in high school, and then served as Siren head boys basketball coach for several years. In his later years, Duane announced area high school basketball games, never staying far away from the sport. Wis was widely loved and respected by decades of players, coaches and referees in the area.
Duane cherished his role as grandfather to Zach, Madison, Maya, Skyler and Scout, and loved playing with them at the cabin on Spirit Lake and watching their sports as they grew up. He also greatly enjoyed golf and attending Badger football and basketball games with friends and family. Duane married his wife Gwynne in 2010 and loved becoming part of the Jenson family for the past 16 years, after knowing her and her brothers when they were in elementary school. He passed away on Feb. 4, 2026, after an eight-month battle with bladder cancer.
Wis was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bruce; and first wife, Jane.
He will be greatly mourned by his wife, Gwynne; daughter, Jennifer (Chad) Greenquist; son, Jake Wisse; stepson, Matt (Erin) Jenson; stepdaughter, Margo Jenson; grandchildren, Zachary Greenquist, Maya Greenquist, Madison Wisse, Skyler Wisse, Scout Wisse, River Jenson, Ayla Jenson, and Brynn Jenson; and many other friends and relatives.
Visitation will be on Friday, Feb. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic. A memorial service will be held on Feb. 28, 2026, at 11 a.m., at the Bone Lake Lutheran Church. There will also be a visitation one hour before the memorial service.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories, and photos at rowefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, 715-327-4475.
