Duane E. Blanchard

Duane E. Blanchard, 83, of New Berlin, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2026.

Duane was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who will be remembered for his hardworking nature, service to his community, love of music, and passion for the things that brought people together.

Duane proudly served in the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in Clovis, New Mexico, and his service included a deployment to Thailand. Following his military service, Duane worked at Allis-Chalmers before ending his career at Krones, where he worked in maintenance for 26 years before retiring.

Duane’s commitment to serving others continued throughout his life. He proudly served 21 years with the New Berlin Fire Department, dedicating himself to protecting his community and helping others. During his time with the department, Duane became Captain of Station 4, and he later served with the department’s Hazmat Unit.

Music was another great passion in Duane’s life. A talented trombone player, he performed with many different musical groups throughout the years. He also loved Corvettes and was a proud member of the Muskego Corvette Club, where he enjoyed sharing his passion for cars and the friendships that came with it.

Duane was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ellen Blanchard, who passed away on November 9, 2019, and his sister, Diane Paprocki, who passed away in March 2020.

He is survived by his children, Dave Blanchard, Jean-Paul Blanchard, and Michael Blanchard; his grandchildren, Haylan Blanchard, Henry Blanchard, Finn Blanchard, and Milo Blanchard; and his brother, David Blanchard (Denise). He will also be remembered and missed by many extended family members, friends, former colleagues, fellow firefighters, musicians, and members of the Muskego Corvette Club.

For the last four years, Duane resided at Heritage at Elm Grove. His family is grateful to the staff for the care and support they provided to Duane during his time there.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin, beginning at 10:00 AM, followed by a funeral ceremony at 12:00 PM. A luncheon will follow the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Humane Animal Welfare Society- HAWS of Waukesha County in Duane’s memory.