Duane Richard Brenegan, 89, of Cary, NC, passed peacefully into eternal life on September 6, 2025.
Duane was born June 19, 1936, in Galesville, Wisconsin, to Stanley and Evelyn (Flaherty) Brenegan. After completing elementary and high school in Galesville, he earned a B.S. degree from Winona State University in 1958, followed by a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin. Duane’s career began as a teacher and football coach in Madison, WI, and he later served as a high school Principal at several high schools in the state. Later in his career, he worked at John Deere in Horicon, WI, retiring in June 1992. He took pride in being a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, The Knights of Columbus, and the Lion’s Club. Duane was also a devoted parishioner at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary, NC.
Duane relished any opportunity to enjoy numerous outdoor activities, including fishing, biking, golf, running, and snow and water skiing. He was a life-long fan of the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers, and one could always count on hearing him singing “On Wisconsin” or “If you want to be a Badger” after any touchdown.
Duane was perhaps most fond of the yearly fishing trips he enjoyed with friends and his brother at a cabin he built on a Canadian lake, and later in the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. Though he loved many sports, none of them could top the love he had for his family.
Duane is survived by the love of his life, Mardell, whom he was married to for nearly 52 years; daughter Kim O’Flaherty of Lilydale, MN; sons Thomas (Sue) Brenegan of Stevens Point, WI, and Michael (Colleen) Brenegan of Cary, NC; grandchildren Ryan Brenegan, Sam Brenegan, Bethany Breneman, Brigitte Smith, Tristan Koepke, Claire Brenegan and Caroline Brenegan; and step-granddaughter Becki Gawlik. Additionally, he is survived by 8 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, brother Jack (Barb) Brenegan, 3 brothers-in law and 7 sisters-in-law.
A Celebration of Life for Duane will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Duane’s name would be greatly appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Dementia Alliance of NC, or to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.
Duane’s family would especially like to thank Brookdale Memory Care of Cary and Transitions Hospice of Raleigh for their compassionate care of Duane and his family.
