Eligius R. Duren, 93, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

Eligius was born March 18, 1923, at Cazenovia, Wisconsin, to John and Mary (Weber) Duren. He grew up and went to school in Stacyville, Iowa. When he was 20 years old, he went to work for Geo. A. Hormel Company for a short time before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946.

Eligius married Irene Talaga on Jan. 29, 1946, at La Mesa, California, and they moved to Stacyville where he worked in his father’s lumber mill. The Durens moved to Austin in 1949 and Eligius worked for Hormel until his retirement in 1981. He was proud to have built his own home in Austin. In 1963, Eligius and Irene started the Austin Sewing Center and together they owned and operated the business until the summer of 2016 when he officially retired at the age of 93. He had his own band for 35 years and played the fiddle, mandolin and was especially good at playing guitar. He played by ear, never reading music. Eligius was a caring man, always helped others and made sure he provided for his family.

He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Olaf B. Damm Post 1216 VFW and Austin Post  91 American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Gerald Duren, Madeline Blaser, Steve Duren, Priscilla Kiefer, Raphal Duren and Joseph Duren.

Eligius is survived by his wife, Irene Duren, Austin; daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon (Charles) Jacobson, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, and Barbara (Steve) James, Austin; three grandchildren, Samuel (Traci) Jacobson, Apple Valley, Minnesota, Ryan (Kate) James, Waconia, Minnesota, and Nicholas James, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Otto (Joyce) Duren, Lyle, Minnesota, Hubert (Barbara) Duren, Arlington Heights, Illinois, and John Duren, Jr., Osage, Iowa; sister, Olga Thurnau, St. Ansgar, Iowa; and  nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church for one hour before the service

Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.