Duane M. Klueh

Duane M. Klueh, 98, passed away on Sunday morning June 2, 2024, in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Duane was born January 6, 1926 in Bottineau, North Dakota to Joseph Klueh and Martha Doman Klueh. The Klueh family, including his only sister Genevieve Klueh, moved to Terre Haute, Indiana in 1932. Duane’s early childhood home was blocks from the Indiana State University (ISU) campus and tennis courts. Duane would walk to campus every day to shoot baskets and hit tennis balls on the brick wall of the old ISU gym. After graduating high school, Duane joined the United States Navy, serving as a Quartermaster on the USS Wasp in the Pacific during WWII assisting with repatriation of former POWs to their home countries.

Duane Klueh played tennis and basketball at State Lab High School in Terre Haute, Indiana, earning 4 letters. Here he also met Mary Alice Shannon Klueh who would become his wife of 68 years. Duane played basketball from 1946 – 1949 at ISU under Coach John Wooden and Coach John Longfellow. He was named the 1948 National Player of the Year and All-American by Helms Foundation. Duane graduated from ISU in 1949, then played professional basketball for the Denver Nuggets and the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons. After his NBA career, Duane returned to begin his coaching career at Fowler High School in Indiana. Soon after, he returned to Terre Haute to coach his beloved Sycamores. One of the most respected and well-liked coaches in the college ranks, Klueh led ISU basketball from 1955-1967 and later the ISU men’s tennis team for more than 20 years. Duane Klueh is the winningest basketball and tennis coach in Sycamore history.

Duane spent his entire career as an educator on the faculty of ISU, teaching in the Mathematics Department and the Physical Education Department. He received numerous accolades at ISU, including being named Professor Emeritus, and being awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award. Duane was also inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame, Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame, ISU Hall of Fame (charter inductee), and recently the national Small College Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2004, Duane (#54) was one of the first two players in ISU history to have his basketball jersey retired. Coach Klueh would say, “Almost all of the good things that have happened to me in my life have been the result of being a student athlete, a teacher or coach at Indiana State.”

Duane enjoyed retirement playing senior tennis, often accompanied by his loving wife, Mary Alice Shannon Klueh. Coach was a fervent supporter of Indiana State Sycamore basketball. Duane & Mary Alice also traveled to visit their large family, which includes 7 children, 10 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. He and Mary Alice were long-time, active parishioners of St. Benedict Catholic Church. Duane and Mary Alice contributed greatly to the community of Terre Haute, including volunteer work and philanthropic contributions to Indiana State University, St. Mary of the Woods, Vigo County Historical Society and Museum, Catholic Charities and more. Duane and Mary Alice received the Move On! Award from Indiana State University to recognize their considerable contributions. Duane’s impact on those he met over the decades left an immeasurable value within and beyond his community of Terre Haute.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Martha Klueh, sister, Genevieve Klueh, and beloved wife, Mary Alice Shannon Klueh. He is survived by his 7 children, Larry Klueh (Anne), Katherine Klueh Risacher, Mary Klueh, John Klueh (Tammy Ford), Michael Klueh (Susan Torrence), James Klueh (Rhonda Nelson), Paul Klueh; his 10 grandchildren, Joseph Klueh, Cecilia Klueh, Shannon Risacher, Michael Klueh Marquis, Julia Klueh Marquis, Christopher Dusch (Stephanie Brancaforte), Morgen Murphy Gallo (Tom), Gabriel Klueh (Christina), Charles Klueh (Cassie), Martha Klueh; and his 9 great-grandchildren.

A visitation at Callahan Hughes Funeral Home (605 South 25th St., Terre Haute) will be held on Wednesday, June 12 from 4-8pm. On Thursday, June 13, visitation (10am-12pm) at St. Benedict Catholic Church (119 South 9th St.) will precede the funeral service at 12:05pm followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Benedict Catholic Church Soup Kitchen or Catholic Charities.